Crazy about Cab Franc

Of the Bordeaux varieties, Cabernet Franc has always been a favorite of mine. Usually a tad bit lighter in body compared to Cabernet Sauvignon, Franc generally offers supple tannins; a ripe, fruit-forward palate; and a hint of exotic spice. I have blogged about Cab Franc from boutique producers such as Titus, Crocker & Starr and David Arthur; now I can add Cornerstone Cellars to that list.

The 2010 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Cabernet Franc is an approachable Napa Valley red with distinction. With savory aromas of red pepper and dried herbs, it is quite different than its Cabernet Sauvignon counterpart. This Franc offers super-smooth tannins, bright acidity, and luscious red berry flavors. Blended with 8% Merlot, this wine is aged in 100% French oak (50% new). It is youthful and bright; enjoy it now or hold on to it for a couple years.

Cabernet Franc is a unique wine because less than 3% of Napa Valley vineyards are planted to this varietal.  Cornerstone produces less than 800 cases of Cab Franc and sources the fruit from vineyards in St. Helena and Carneros. It was a great match for the homemade spaghetti Bolognese with sautéed mushrooms and fresh basil I cooked for dinner last week. At $35/bottle, this wine offers value and food-pairing flexibility. Find it in their Yountville Tasting Room, which is mentioned in my debut novel Where I Want to Be: A Wine Country Novel, or order it directly from their website. Cheers!

David Arthur Winery: incredible wines and views

The next time you plan a trip to the Napa Valley and you want to visit a winery that’s off the beaten path, make an appointment at David Arthur Winery, located to the east of the Silverado Trail north of Yountville.

The driveway is steeper and longer than you can imagine (it’s called “Long Ranch Road” for a reason!), but once you get to the top of Pritchard Hill, you’ll see that the trek was worth it. The views of the valley 1200 feet below are incredible!

I went for a tasting in September last year and, unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures. Don't make the same mistake! (The one above is from their website and does not do the beautiful views justice.)

I must have tasted ten different wines that day—they were some of the biggest, most intense mountain-grown wines I have ever tried. The one wine that I knew I had to go home with was the Cab Franc ($60/bottle).

After allowing this wine some time to mellow out in the bottle, I opened it this past Monday night. The 2009 David Arthur Cabernet Franc was just as big and intense as I remembered it!

Dark purple and very concentrated in the glass, this Franc has a perfume of black cherry, sweet blackberry jam, and violets. The palate is lush and effusive, offering layers of cherry cola, vanilla, star anise, and crème de cassis. Tannins are superfine and velvety. It ends with ripe berry and spice notes (and the urge to take another sip).

This wine was even better the second night, which tells me I could have held onto it a little longer (and that I should have gotten more than just the one bottle). The winery didn’t make much of it (less than 150 cases), as is usually the case with Napa-grown Cab Franc. If you can get your hands on some, don’t put off the pleasure of drinking it for too long!

Oh, and be sure to check out Chappellet and Ovid while you’re up there on Pritchard Hill!

The Vineyard Experience at Crocker & Starr

If you asked me today what my top ten favorite wines are, three from Crocker & Starr would definitely make the list.

My friend, Julie, and I received a warm welcome by winemaker Pam Starr at the Crocker & Starr Estate in St. Helena yesterday. We began the unique 'Vineyard Experience' on the porch of the farmhouse with a taste of the 2011 Sauvignon Blanc.

I have always loved the Crocker & Starr SB ($32/bottle). Made from organically grown grapes sourced from the Crocker Vineyard and the Hyde Las Trancas Vineyard in Oak Knoll, this wine is medium-bodied, fresh, and fruit-forward. It is aged sur lies, 96% stainless steel barrels and 4% new French oak barrels, which adds a wonderful creaminess to the mouthfeel and intensity to the flavors. Floral aromas with white peach, guava and citrus. Finishes clean with brilliant acidity.

In yesterday's 85+ degree temperatures, this wine was wonderfully refreshing!

Wine glass in hand, we walked from the porch to the edge of the vineyard. You can really hear the passion in Pam's voice as she talks about pruning and vineyard management, clones, and soil types. It was both fascinating and inspiring!

Eager to get out of the sun, we settled at the long walnut table (big enough to seat at least 8 people or more) under the arbor to taste the Estate red wines.

I have been enjoying Pam's wines for about three years now, and they remain consistently delicious year-to-year. As usual, the red wines were outstanding.

The 2009 Cab Franc smells like blueberry pie right out of the oven. The palate offers layers of sweet blueberry, cherry cola, herbs and baking spices (particularly cinnamon and cardamom). Luscious mouthfeel with dry, velvety tannins. The wine ends with lingering flavors of tobacco leaf and cocoa. This wine will age well but is very drinkable now. ($62/bottle, less than 500 cases)

The 2008 Stone Place Cabernet Sauvignon is dark, powerful, and concentrated. This 100% Cab shows rich, black fruit aromas. Blackberry jam and dark chocolate flavors are backed by firm tannins and hints of baking spice. Black licorice and sweet vanilla linger on the palate. Absolutely delicious! Aged in barrel for 20 months, 80% new French oak. I was actually shocked by how well this wine is showing upon release; but it definitely has the potential to improve over the next 10+ years. ($90/bottle, less than 500 cases)

Tours and tastings are available daily by appointment only. Definitely worth visiting! (photo below: Julie and I posing near a vintage wine press)

And I strongly recommend the Prime Rib French Dip sandwich at the Rutherford Grill afterwards. Mmmmmm.....

P.S. Pam also makes super-small amounts of wine specifically for the Crocker & Starr Casali Wine Club (the Malbec is amazing!) and she is the winemaking genius behind the Bridesmaid wines. A second label that she produces with Drew Nieman, the Bridesmaid Bordeaux-style blends are affordable and ready-to-drink. Perfect for summer!

Tamber Bey Winery is on a winning streak

Two years ago, I was sad to see the bookstore on Adams Street close. That being said, what opened in its spot, Tamber Bey Winery's tasting room, is a breath of fresh air in downtown St. Helena. I visited the tasting room for the first time in March of last year, and haven't stopped raving about the wines since.

Owner Barry Waitte owns horses that he races professionally. The name "Tamber Bey" was derived from the names of his first two horses - Tamborina and Bayamo, which were nicknamed Tamber and Bey. In keeping with the horse theme, Barry changed the name of the vineyard he purchased in Yountville in 1999 from "Two Rivers" to "Deux Cheveux" (or "two horses" in French).

The tasting room in St. Helena has a chic equestrian feel to it, too. I usually opt for one of the deep chestnut leather sofas under the flat-screen TV; a video comprised of images of the estate in Yountville, Barry's horses and his chocolate lab Hershey, and photographs from wine events tell the story of Tamber Bey. On the opposite side of the room, there is a large farmer's table by the window with room for up to 8 guests. In the middle of the room is a horseshoe shaped bar with a copper counter top and comfortable bar chairs. I like the doors to the offices, which are fashioned after rustic stable doors.

If you're interested in seeing the estate and vineyards with your own eyes, you'll need to make an appointment. Located off Yount Mill Road in Yountville, the estate is gorgeous. Last week, on a very unusually warm January afternoon, I sat on the terrace with Barry and tasted the 2009 vintage wines.

Unfortunately for consumers, the Deux Cheveux Chardonnay is sold out--it is an incredible medium-bodied wine with subtle oak nuances, citrus, pear and spice. Having access to this wine is worth joining the wine club!

Of the red wines, the Deux Cheveux Cabernet Sauvignon is always my favorite (but the Merlot was a close second!). It is luscious yet refined; flavors of black and blue fruits comingle with notes of sweet oak and baking spice. With smooth tannins, this is an easy-drinking Cab that has the potential to age beautifully, but it is ready to drink now.

I'm not the only one bragging about how great the Tamber Bey wines are. The winery has been getting a lot of great press and the 2009 Merlot was recently featured in the Wine Spectator. My bet is on their continued success!

Enjoying an afternoon at Ehlers Estate

Armed with a recent copy of the Preiser Key magazine and a cooler carefully packed with snacks, bottled water, and plenty of room for wine purchases, we headed north on Highway 29 with a number of wineries in mind to visit. According to the "Key", which lists the contact information for wineries and restaurants in the Napa Valley, Ehler's Estate Winery had a tasting room that permitted walk-ins. We headed there first.

As we stepped inside the cavernous tasting room, we were welcomed by two members of the Ehlers staff, but they quickly corrected us about being able to just stroll in for a tasting. (We learned the hard way that the Key was wrong about a lot of tasting rooms; more than you think are by appointment only.)

So we made an appointment right then and there, and as embarrassing as it was to show up unannounced, I was relieved they were able to squeeze us in only an hour later.

With a glass of the 2008 Sauvignon Blanc in hand, we stepped into the soil of the vineyards just 20 feet from the front door of the tasting room's grand entrance. Bocce ball courts, outdoor tables, antique wooden benches, and large olive trees are just 20 feet from the front door in the opposite direction (and a great place to picnic!).

Our tour guide, Maurice ("Mo" for short), led us up to the barrel room next, where a bottle of the 2006 Merlot eagerly awaited us. As Mo shared a bit of information about the barrel regimen used by Ehler's winemaker, I was pulled in by the richness and complexity of the Merlot. Its layers of cherry cola, ripe plum, and smokey oak were accented by smooth tannins and a long lingering finish.

Back in the tasting room, at a table big enough to accommodate a sit-down tasting for 12, we settled down in front of 3 glasses and 3 small plates. From left to right, we tasted the 2006 Cab Franc, the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, and their flagship Cab, the 1886. These were beautiful, highly concentrated wines with solid structure, prominent fruit character, and velvety tannins--and great with food.

In order for the crew at Ehlers to prepare this terrific tour and tasting, they need to know you're coming. Don't forget to call ahead!