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Napa Valley

Napa Valley AVA is the most famous winemaking region in the United States and one of the most prestigious in the world. With nearly 43,000 acres of vineyards and more than 300 wineries, it is the heart of fine wine production in the United States. Winemaking started in Napa in 1838 when George C. Yount planted grapes and began producing wine commercially. Other winemaking pioneers followed in the late 19th century, including the founders of Charles Krug, Schramsberg, Inglenook and Beaulieu Vineyards. An infestation of phylloxera, an insect that attacks vine roots, and the onset of Prohibition nearly wiped out the nascent Napa wine industry in the early 20th century. But by the late 1950s and early 1960s Robert Mondavi and other visionaries were producing quality wines easily distinguishable from the mass-produced jug wines made in California’s Central Valley. Napa Valley’s AVA was established in 1983, and today there are 16 sub-appellations within the Napa Valley AVA. Many grapes grow well in Napa’s Mediterranean climate, but the region is best known for Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay is also very successfully cultivated, and about 30% of the AVA’s acreage is planted to white grapes, with the majority of those grapes being Chardonnay,

2003 Elyse Nero Misto

Light label condition issue

2007 Elyse Nero Misto

2003 Elyse Syrah

Lightly depressed cork

2007 Elyse Syrah

Lightly depressed cork

WE  90   

2007 Switchback Ridge Peterson Family Vineyard Merlot

375ml

Lightly depressed cork

WS  93   

2008 Switchback Ridge Peterson Family Vineyard Merlot

375ml

WS  92   
RP  90   

2003 Blackbird Vineyards Oak Knoll District Merlot

Missing wax top

WE  90   

2000 Bacio Divino

Light capsule condition issue; light label condition issue

RP  90   

2009 Von Strasser Diamond Mountain Zinfandel

2000 Rosenblum Pickett Road Petite Sirah

WS  92   
WE  90   

2000 Rosenblum Pickett Road Petite Sirah

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; signs of past seepage; light label condition issue

WS  92   
WE  90   

2000 Rosenblum Pickett Road Petite Sirah

Light capsule condition issue; depressed cork; signs of past seepage; 3 cm ullage

WS  92   
WE  90   

2000 Rosenblum Pickett Road Petite Sirah

Light label condition issue

WS  92   
WE  90   

2007 Domaine Chandon Pinot Meunier

Light label condition issue

2003 Harris Estate Jake's Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

ST  91   
RP  90   

2001 Kuleto Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

WS  91   
RP  90   

2009 Saintsbury Stanly Ranch Pinot Noir

WE  94   
ST  90   

2006 Vincent Arroyo Petite Sirah Port

375ml

2003 Madrigal Napa Valley Zinfandel

2003 Garric Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

2007 Frazier Family Estate Merlot

Lightly depressed cork

2008 Frazier Family Estate Merlot

2005 Gloria Ferrer Gravel Knob Vineyard Pinot Noir

Lightly depressed cork; light label condition issue

2002 Prager Winery & Port Works Royal Escort Paladini Vineyard Port

Lightly depressed cork; light label condition issue

2003 Robert Pecota Petite Verdot

Light label condition issue