From the cool region of Coombsville in the southern part of Napa Valley, Brion Winery crafts its elegant expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. From the Caldwell Vineyard with soils filled with volcanic tuff from the Vaca Mountain range that mixes with sedimentary rock creating bold expressions of mineral-driven wines with blue and black fruit flavors. Brion Caldwell Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is…

This is a big wine. Nearly impenetrable in density, a nose wafting waves of hi-proof concentration akin to the finest current Napa-bling offerings. But at a PP manageable to most folks. I’m not saying it’s cheap, but well-shopped can come in under a bill. Dark, dank, weedy briar edges the jam-packed berry, showing clean Coombsville fruit where valley-staples excel in dusty earthiness. It still…

Wine of the Day: Baldacci Ruppert Cabernet Sauvignon

From cool Coombsville, in the southern part of Napa Valley just outside of Napa proper, Baldacci Vineyards crafts their elevated Ruppert Cabernet Sauvignon ($150). I am a fan of Coombsville, specifically for small lot, single-vineyard wines like Baldacci specializes in, as the region’s warm sunshine-filled days give way to cool evenings through the night, allowing for a very long growing season…

Wine of the Day: Silverado GEO Cabernet Sauvignon

When considering planting a vineyard to grow premium fruit, whether it be Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, or Viura, the soil the fruit will be grown in is one of the most important factors. And, the diversity of soils found throughout the world allow for so many incredible wines to be produced from a plethora of varieties. The soils give character, thanks to the way it retains water…

Wine of the Day: Mi Sueno Napa Vallery Syrah

The dream of owning a winery, making wine, harvesting grapes, showcasing the things about wine that you love, crosses the mind of every wine lover in the world. What would it look like? What would you make? This dream fueled winemaker Rolando Herrera and his wife, Lorena, in the early years of their life together. Rolando, an immigrant from Mexico who moved to California in his youth looking for…

Dark garnet–ruby at the core–with a definite band of brick at the edge. lots of mint and eucalyptus in the nose, gorgeous sharp juxtapositions to a ker-THUNK of rich fruit majoring in blackberry cola, with all the briar and earth that goes along with both of those, but the fruit turns brighter and redder and the petrichor takes on a shrill galvanized steel.

I don’t know when the last fresh Napa…