Posts tagged: Napa Valley

Three Times is a charm for Celia Welch’s Howell Mountain Cabernet

It was 1993 when Dave Castiel (pron. Cast-ee-all), gazed into his crystal and spied Freemark Abbey, as Mesopotamian mythology’s controller of karma and time, he saw an opportunity and slyly orchestrated a chance meeting of Kathleen and Dave Dicesaris over a tasting of fine wine. they bonded and eventually married. Years later and after a […]

Wednesday July 17th, 2019 in , , , , , | No Comments »

The Last C-Beck Ever!

Corey Beck grew up in the Napa Valley in and around the vineyards his grandfather planted at Chateau Montelena.  He started his winemaking career under Scott McLeod at Rubicon (Francis Ford Copolla).  His own Cabernet Sauvignon is an amazing wine sourced from one of the most sought after vineyards in the Napa Valley nearby the Hourglass, 3 […]

Monday July 15th, 2019 in , , , , | No Comments »

An Under $55.00 Napa Cab Stunner

Almost 20 years ago Scott Palazzo was asked by Thomas Keller, “Chef Extraordinaire” and owner of French Laundry and Per Se restaurants to craft a wine exclusively for him!  That resulted in amazing exposure for this small winery and the rest-as-they-say-is-history. Ever since then Scott’s wine has received great accolades and is selling like hot […]

Saturday July 13th, 2019 in , , , , , , | No Comments »

An UNDER $45 Napa Cabernet

Boris Guillome is a 20+ year wine industry veteran, having worked in some of California’s best wine establisments.  In 2013, he decided that his next challenge would be to create his own label, so he hired Helen Keplinger as his winemaker and set out to find exceptional sites and the best fruit possible. These wines […]

Monday July 8th, 2019 in , , , , , | No Comments »

4 Decade Napa veteran‘s Power House Cabernet

Sandi Belcher is an industry veteran having made the Long wines (now Gandona winery) on Pritchard Hill for2 decades. After Long vineyards was sold, Sandi started making with with partner John Arns and here we are 2 decades later and she is still going strong. The Arns Estate vineyard sits at the bottom of Howell […]

Thursday June 27th, 2019 in , , , , , , | No Comments »

Blind Tasting Winner – Best Cab Franc in the world!

In a recent blind tasting of Cab Francs from around the world, the small Napa Valley winery Crocker Starr (Pam Starr, former Spottswoode winemaker) won the big prize! Our tasting group of 15 tasted the following French and California wines: Cos d’Estournel (100  Vinous) Le Macchiole Paleo Rosso (98 Vinous) Léoville Las-Cases (98 Vinous) Lynch […]

Saturday June 22nd, 2019 in , , , , , | No Comments »

A 95 Point Under $60 Napa Powerhouse

I can’t believe it but White Rock has been around for over 30 years! I fondly recall their 1987 Claret, which was their second release. That was the first vintage I was introduced to in 1990, the beginning of my “wine career”. The Vandendriessches have an amazing property that is nestled on and between a […]

Wednesday June 19th, 2019 in , , , , , , , | No Comments »

97 Point Napa Cab Gem under $80

Always fun to find a hidden gem – Leto is one of them!  The wine is made by Brad Warner, a longtime Napa veteran (50 years).  The name Leto has Greek origins meaning, “the hidden one,” which speaks to Brad’s decades of experience behind-the-scenes for other producers. The 2015 Leto Cabernet, is sourced from a […]

Monday June 17th, 2019 in , , , , , | No Comments »

Sauvignon of the year by Scarecrow winemaker… A must have!

Celia has earned many great accolades as the winemaker of Scarecrow, Corra, Rewa, Castiel, Keever and many other wineries.  This latest Sauvignon Blanc, the Keever 2018 vintage is probably the best to come from this estate ever.  Unfortunately a very small production! The fruit for this Sauvignon Blanc was grown both on the Keever Estate […]

Saturday June 15th, 2019 in , , , , , , | No Comments »

A 96 Point Rated Napa Oldie, but Goodie Cabernet

Ric Forman does not need an introduction.  Forman goes back to 1978 when Ric purchased the current winery/vineyard on a ridge at the base of Howell Mountain overlooking the town of St. Helena. A remarkable site, it has produced some unusually elegant wines.  The first vintage was 1983… and still counting. Forman 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate […]

Friday June 14th, 2019 in , , , , , , | No Comments »