Tag: 4.25 points

Weekend Roundup: Napa Wine Ratings and Reviews

Selections from Buehler Vineyards, Frank Family Vineyards, Grgich Hills and Heitz Cellar

Holiday parties and group BYOB restaurant outings offer great excuses for tasting a variety of wines. (They also are the reason it’s taken me longer than usual to write.) I’m excited to share four wine ratings and reviews from some of Napa Valley’s most iconic wineries.

Wine Ratings and Reviews
  • Grgich Hills Estate 2008 Fume Blanc – This is a great varietal and a crisp, refreshing wine to start with. It’s light and straw colored, having gone through all stainless-steel fermentation. (Ahem, this means it’s a great pick for those who want a non-oaky, non-buttery but still complex wine.) Aromas and flavors of citrus (grapefruit) and lemongrass are most prominent. Fun fact: Grgich Hills was the site of my first-ever tasting in Napa Valley. Rating: 4.25

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A Weekend of Wine; a Bounty of Reviews

Five Napa Valley Wine Reviews

Every so often, we enjoy what I call a “Weekend of Tasting” with the goal of sharing a series of Napa Valley wine reviews. This usually involves gathering with a few others who equally appreciate the beauty each bottle brings and are open to reaching into the far corners of their cellars to share their favorite picks with the group. This past weekend, we spent time with family in Michigan and opened some pretty wonderful wines. Five of my top Napa picks are well worth recommending:

Wine of the Week: Behrens Family Winery, “The Knockout” (2009)

Friday is my favorite night for wine; nothing helps to close out a long work week like good company and a stellar vino. Last night, we opted for a bold wine. Appropriately named, “The Knockout” is a rich, dark Cabernet (84%) blended with Petit Verdot (8%) and Cabernet Franc (8%). Like its cousin, “The Fighter,” this bottle showcases one of Les Behrens’ prized art pieces featuring a boxing ring and all the drama and glory contained within the ropes. Still young, this wine was dramatic, as well. As you might expect, it appeared a dark garnet color in the glass. We also didn’t give it much air or time to decant before taking an initial sip. A few swirls helped to release aromas of dark berries, anise and cedar. (Side note: I always like to take an initial sniff and then try again after I’ve covered the glass with my hand to make the experience more intense.)
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