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Artists- Deanna Yesko & Sam Carroll
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Touring Napa valley Calistoga Region The Calistoga Region is in the northern part of the Napa Valley. Some very fine wines are being produced here. A really nice area to tour with it's beautiful wineries and scenery. The Wineries
We stood overnight in Calistoga, and at 10am (most wineries open at 10) we are pulling up the beautifully landscaped driveway of Chateau Montelena Winery in the northern part of Napa Valley. Their 1973 Chardonnay helped put California on the map by winning in the famous 1976 Paris Tasting. Our host Bob Graff was very informative and knew his wines. A tasting here costs $10 and as of 8/1/01, you get to taste the four wines that follow in my review. Web Site: www.montelena.com
The Tasting: 2000 Riesling $15 Light golden color, and a fresh fruit bouquet. Made in a dry style and showing bright round fruit with a crisp feel. A clean and a slightly tart finish. 1998 Chardonnay, Napa Valley $33 Straw colored with a bouquet of oak, apples, and spices. Medium bodied with clean green fruit, young oak, and pear flavors. A crisp style of Chardonnay that finishes dry. 1997 Saint Vincent, Napa Valley Red Wine $25 This wine is a blend of the Zinfandel, Primitivo, and Sangiovese grapes. Deep purple/red color. A large bouquet with lots of fruit. Fat fruit flavors with oak and a nice dryness. All these elements work well together. A good mouth feel with a nice smooth finish. 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon, Calistoga Cuvee, Napa Valley $35 Dark purple color. Currant, blackberry, and peppery spice on the nose which carry on into the taste and mix with toasty oak. The fruit and structure are still tight but already showing a silky feel. A lush long finish.
Another pleasant surprise was my first visit to Clos
Pegase in the northern Napa Valley near Calistoga. A beautiful
winery with it's grounds graced by sculptures and it's walls by paintings, Their wines are very well made and show depth and class. The '98 Hommage Artist Series Chardonnay is the best Chard. I tasted on this trip. You can taste 3 white wines for $5 and /or 3 reds for $7.50. Their web site is www.clospegase.com
The Tasting: 1998 Hommage Artist Series Chardonnay $36 Golden Color, with a creamy bouquet of Flowery fruit, minerals, and toast. A silky mouth feel. Loads of buttery fruit, vanilla, and rich oak flavors that work very well together. A complex wine. The finish is long and coats the palate. 1998 Mitsuko's Vineyard Merlot $25 A dark red color of medium depth. Fat fruit on the nose. Oak with spicy rich fruit and plum flavors. Smooth feel. The fruit falls apart a little in the finish, but all in all the finish is smooth and appealing. 1998 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $32.50 Medium to dark color. Lots of plumy fruit and some oak on the nose. Medium bodied with nice current, dark berry, and woody flavors. A fruity finish. 1992 Hommage Artist Series Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $80 In the glass it shows a brownish edge. Cassis, dried flowers, licorice, and some musty aromas. Smooth, refined, and complex flavors with a slight port-like taste. Finishes refined and dry.
Still in the Calistoga region of Napa Valley we now come to Cuvaison
Winery which in the 1970's was known for it's big full-blown Chardonnays
and Cabernet Sauvignons. I have wonderful The Tasting: 1999 Chardonnay, Napa Valley, Carneros, Reserve $32 A light golden color with oak, and perfumed, dense fruit. Rich on the palate while displaying elegant fruit and lots of creamy vanilla flavors. A smooth, and long finish. Very nice... 1999 Pinot Noir, Napa Valley, Carneros $22.95 Medium red color with fresh raspberry and sweet fruit on the nose. Elegant and complex spring fruit flavors that burst open on the palate, mixing well with this wines soft tannins. A nice dry finish. 1998 Merlot, Napa Valley, Carneros $29 This is one of the best Merlots I tasted on this visit to Napa. A medium red/purple color with loads of blackberry, deep plum and herbs on the nose. A silky, smooth, and rich mouth feel. Dark fruit, currant, and oaky vanilla flavors. The finish is long and silky. 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $32.95 Medium to dark Brown/red color (like some of the great red wines of Italy). The bouquet is still tight with currant and black plum aromas. Medium bodied. Flavors of deep fruit, black tea, and tannin. Dry finish with smooth fruit.
Click! here to go to; Stags Leap Region Click! here to go to; St, Helena & Rutherford Click! here to go back to; Touring, Napa Valley
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both by some of the most influential artist of the 20th century. From their brochure;
"Clos Pegase embodies the vision of Jan and Mitsuko Shrem, shared of
creating a temple to wine and art, and Michael Graves' magnificent architecture
is the vessel of that
dream." 
memories of those big Chardonnays of the mid-70's. They were so rich, lush, and
chewy I would just sip and enjoy them without food, maybe just a piece of good
bread with some extra virgin olive oil. Today they are still making
great and rich wines, but in a more refined style. I enjoy their '99
Chardonnay as much as the mid-70's ones but now, along or with a full
dinner. Our host at the tasting room, Kelly Aimar was very helpful with
the tasting and explaining the wines. A tasting here costs $5 for the four
wines reviewed below and you get to keep the glass. For more information
their web site is: