It’s Time to Fall into Napa Valley Wines

That’s right fellow wine drinkers, September wine picks are here! Together we will explore Napa Valley, drinking an education as Heather would say. So let’s dive on into these vinos!

Sophisticated & Bolder Things: 

Silverado Block Bend Chardonnay

A beautiful 100% chardonnay is from the Carneros district in Napa Valley, that sits in the foothills of the Mayacamas mountains. 

*Now, quick side note: Los Carneros is split in half between two of the most well known viticultural areas in California: Napa Valley and Sonoma. This means vintners will label as Los Carneros Napa Valley or Los Carneros Sonoma. 

Back to the Chardonnay itself, it was both fermented and aged in oak barrels. This is one of the first aromas you will smell followed by vanilla and baking spices, these carry over onto the palate which compliment the notes of apple, mango, and fig.

Black Stallion Pinot Noir Los Carneros

Another excellent wine from the Los Carneros region of Napa Valley which is right off the Silverado Trail! That’s next to the winery of the Chardonnay above! The aromas from this pinot noir start off with lush red fruit notes before extending into oaky spice. This pairs beautifully on the palate as tastes of pomegranate, cherry and strawberry echo with the oak, vanilla, and chocolate. Only to finish with a tannin that honestly reminds me of Earl Grey tea, my personal favorite.

Bolder Things:

Starmont Merlot

Starmont is the little sister company of Merryvale Vineyards. We know them from their Profile Collection, check it out in our glass case next time you visit! Starmont’s Merlot is a brilliant blend of predominantly Merlot followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Dark fruit, earthy notes, and spice delight the nose before enchanting the palate with tastes of plum, vanilla, oak, cassis, and the lightest touch of smoke.

Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon

Vineyard Family, meet Tony Coltrin, head winemaker for Oberon Vineyards. This wine is the accomplishment of Tony’s goal to make a layered complex Cabernet Sauvignon. By sourcing grapes from Oberon’s vineyards from all over Napa Valley, including sub-regions: Rutherford, St. Helena, Oak Knoll, Yountville, Chile Valley, Pope Valley, and Capell Valley. This congregation of vineyards allows notes from different soils to add depth to this Cabernet. In addition, Tony added a little Petit Verdot and Zinfandel, to deepen color and accentuate the Cabernet varietals. On the nose, you get dark fruits, spice, and a touch of sweetness foreshadowing the silky smooth tastes of blackberry, black cherry, licorice, coffee, and dark chocolate.

Finer Things:

Inglenook Niebaum 1882 Cabernet Sauvignon

The year is 1882. You’ve endured the tumultuous seas as a sea captain, and become one of the most well known traders in the world. You have personally explored and mapped the coast of Alaska, and promoted its purchase. Now you’re three years into the legacy that will become the Inglenook Vineyards and Winery, and you and your Vineyard General Manager have a mad scientist idea. You take your vintage 1882 Cabernet and hide it away in a test cellar, of which you built, to perfect the barrel aging process. This is Captain Gustave Niebaum and his friend Hamden McIntyre. 140 years later you get to taste the fruits of their labor. This cabernet opens up with aromas of dark fruit, earth, and spice. Perfectly executed on the palate as blackberry, plum, leather, tobacco, and oaky vanilla.

Trefethen Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Trefethen’s Cabernet out of the Oak Knoll region of Napa Valley is straight from the Estate Vineyard. Made from 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is finished with Petit Verdot, Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc varietals. After a perfect growing year, all grapes were harvested by November. This wine expresses itself on the nose as dark fruits, savory herbs, and earthy notes. Meeting the palate with flavors of black currant, plum, lavender, cocoa, leather, and touches of black pepper and vanilla.

Special Treat just for those at the Member’s Monday dinner:

Trefethen Late Harvest Riesling

This late harvest riesling comes from grapes that are harvested as late as December. The grapes from this time of year look similar to raisins which means the juice inside is super concentrated. This juice is put through a slow fermentation process, which results in this sweet wine. On the nose you get hints of honeysuckle, stone fruit, and some earthy minerality, which translates onto the palate as peach, apricot, honey, and that very subtle hint of fallen leaves that makes this wine perfect for fall.

 

Autumn Leaves, Apple Trees, & Wine Please

With fall upon, we all start to look forward to the holidays. We become kinder, we think deeper, and we talk sweeter. It’s time to start thinking of those times now. Tony Coltrin said, “If grapes are the heart of a wine, people are its soul.” Reach out to those souls around you: your friends, families, coworkers. It’s time to celebrate with them all the harvesting this year has brought. The Vineyard is happy to accommodate your celebrations, no matter the occasion: halloween parties, friendsgivings, holiday festivities, wedding dinners, anniversaries, and so much more. Call to book your party today! (417)882-0399 Our event coordinator would be happy to help you with your event needs. Also keep in mind we have our annual Prisoner Wine Company dinner October 18th, and Caymus Friendsgiving November 15th & 16th. Sip, smoke, savor friends, and we’ll see you soon!