Wanted to share my recent trip up to Napa! As a note, this was all done via Uber, never had to drive anywhere, nor book a driver. Since it's a topic that comes up regularly, worth sharing.
This trip also happened in Jan, but I'm a little late in posting.
Organized a double date of wine tasting with good friends of ours.
This was a great tasting that came together in a great way and was thankfully not as chaotic as I feared, even though it was a very busy day.
We were also blessed with absolutely gorgeous weather, which was a pleasant surprise for mid-January when the rest of the country was dealing with freezing storms.
Started at Davis, which we won a tasting for on charity auction last year and saved it for this tasting.
Then after a lunch break at Brasswood, ventured to Realm North, where we are members.
Then finally, closed out at Myriad, before having dinner (pizza delivery) at our friends' place before returning back to San Francisco.
Davis Estates
I had not heard of Davis Estates until I won a tasting for four at a charity auction a year prior.
The tasting also came with a magnum of 2018 Davis Cabernet Sauvignon, which I enjoyed last summer with some friends at dinner, so I was excited for this.
The tasting experience was lovely. The grounds are beautiful, including the famous windmill on the label. We also went into the caves and got to tour around a little more.
For the tasting, we were lucky enough to be seated on the outdoor patio, where we enjoyed the weather and sunshine.
All the wines were good, if a bit young, and the small bites really helped elevate the wines.
Was also lucky enough to get a pour of the Phase V!
Great experience with nice hospitality, would easily go back.
2023 Davis Estates Chardonnay
Great way to start off the tasting.
Refreshing.
Lemon, lemon peel, some other citrus fruits. Not buttery.
89 points.
2022 Davis Estates Merlot Rhys Private Reserve
Plush and maybe slightly velvety?
Red plum, blueberry, and dark cocoa notes, with slight graphite.
Still young with noticeable oak and high tannins.
Picked up some bell pepper notes as well with time.
A little thin on the palate.
89 points.
2021 Davis Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Zephyr Private Reserve
This is a left bank style blend, was told this was 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, which would make this a Bordeaux blend, versus the "Cabernet Sauvignon" this is listed as on CT.
Maybe more specifically, this felt like a Pauillac style blend.
Blackberry, dark cherry, blueberry, and graphite notes.
Enjoyable, but a little thin on the palate.
This was a nice wine, although it drinks more like a $60 Napa wine, versus the $135 price point.
90+ points.
2021 Davis Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain
I'm a sucker for any Howell Mountain wine, so I was very excited to try this.
This is clearly very young, with tannins for days and tasting like tanbark at times.
This is a powerful wine, with loads of dark fruit, dark plum, dark cherry, and pencil shavings.
In contrast to the other reds, this didn't feel thin on the palate, which was nice.
I have a feeling this will get better with time.
90+ points.
2021 Davis Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Phase V
This was a bonus treat and a special pour by our host!
Dark plum, plum skins, pomegranate skins, dark cherry, and blackberry notes.
This is oaky, big, and still has super high tannins, which is no surprise given the amount of new oak in this.
I have a feeling this will be a great wine over time and I look forward to trying Phase V with age.
Melka is apparently the winemaker on this, which checks out.
91+ points.
Lunch at Brasswood, which was enjoyable and suggestion from our host at Davis.
The smart decision would have been to get water, but charged ahead with more wine. Even had a Sauternes at the end, but I forgot which one it was.
2019 Animo Cabernet Sauvignon
Enjoyed with lunch.
This was drinking nicely out of the bottle, but benefitted even more from time in the decanter.
An enjoyable down-the-middle Napa Cab, with lots of fruit, but still some layers. Tannins were well-settled.
Paired well with margherita pizza.
90 points.
Realm North
I've really enjoyed Realm the few times I've tried them. We're members, but most of our bottles are being cellared for future consumption.
The Realm North property is absolutely beautiful and the tasting room is lovely, with lots of natural sunlight.
I also appreciate this was a very intimate tasting experience with a great host.
The wine spoke for itself and was amazing and clearly treated with care.
While this was the shortest tasting experience (just a shade over an hour), it never felt rushed, and I look forward to continuing being a member at Realm!
2023 Realm Cellars Precious Twin Rosé
Nice tannins.
Notes of grapefruit and cranberry.
Also some nice floral notes.
On the palate, somewhat reminded me of Sweet Tarts (but not in an artificial sense).
88 points.
2022 Realm Cellars Moonracer
Moonracer was my first foray into the Realm portfolio (I'm a member now), so I always have a soft spot for it.
I continue to believe 2022 is an overly-maligned vintage, as good winemakers navigate it well and these wines tend to be more approachable now, not requiring years to drink.
Dark cherry and blueberry notes, alongside some graphite, cocoa, and cinnamon dustings.
This has tannins for days and is still tight, but did open up nicely with lots of swirling.
92+ points.
2022 Realm Cellars Farella Vineyard
First time trying their Farella bottling from Coombsville.
The 5% Merlot makes this more approachable, given the young age, and adds some nice plushness.
Picked up sour blueberry candy, young peppercorn, graphite, dark cherry, and cinnamon notes.
91+ points.
2019 Realm Cellars The Bard
The Bard, while still Cab-dominant, is also closer to a Left Bank Bordeaux blend, with 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot.
This was lovely to drink, with notes of red plum, sour blueberry, red cherry, and cranberry, alongside some cocoa dust.
I have a feeling this will get even better with time, but glad it can be enjoyed right now.
91+ points.
2023 Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard
This was a special treat by our wonderful host!
Always wanted to try the Beckstoffer portfolio of Realm and this was a great opportunity.
This wine had been double-decanted, so had time to open up.
Blueberry, cherry, dark plum.
Alongside some cinnamon dust, chocolate, and maybe even some nutmeg.
And lots of graphite!
Can't wait to see how this develops over time.
93+ points.
Myriad
Was lucky enough to have the opportunity to taste at Myriad. I admire and have enjoyed their wines in the past.
Another very intimate tasting experience, which I always appreciate.
Cannot say enough great things about the wine and the hospitality here. Never felt rushed here, even though it was the end of the day.
2023 Myriad Cellars Rarefied Air Beckstoffer Melrose Vineyard
Great way to open up the tasting.
Felt like drinking a Bordeaux Blanc, versus a Napa "white"
Still young, but drinking nicely now.
Picked up some white peach and lemon notes.
88 points.
2023 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
This had loads of dark fruit, including dark plum.
Lots of tannins, felt like tanbark at times, indicating this is very young.
Some cocoa and pencil shavings here too.
Enjoyable and sure this has lots of upside.
90 points.
2023 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga
Still very young, but enjoyable in spite of the high tannins.
Some good fruit here, but almost dominated by the spice, including cocoa, cinnamon bark, clove, and nutmeg.
91 points.
2023 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard
This was still very young, with loads of tannins, but showing some nice fruit.
Picked up grapefruit whites and skins, alongside some pomegranate.
Also some cinnamon bark and white pepper.
Can't wait to see how this develops!
91+ points.
2023 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Rarefied Air
This was surprisingly not tight, I believe this had been decanted a little longer.
Perfumed nose.
Picked up dark cherry, blueberry, and blackberry notes.
Slight cinnamon bark as well.
This was my favorite wine of the Myriad tasting!
92+ points.
After all that wine, had some Detroit style pizza at our friends' house, where they opened another bottle, because why not end the day with more wine?
2021 Le Cuvíer Petite Sirah
Bonus bottle with pizza for dinner.
My friends are fans of the winery and producer.
This is an enjoyable bottle, drinking well now, great to sip and not think too hard about.
Didn't take super detailed notes, but I do enjoy some good California Petite Sirah.
90 points.
A truly memorable tasting, with a great combination of great company, exceptional wines, friendly hosts, intimate experiences, and lovely weather!
I would recommend all three of these wineries to anyone looking to go!
by rnjbond