Tasting on the Silverado Trail

Image of Hagafen Cellars via Snooth

Guest editorial from my friends Jim Allison and Lina Enrile of Castro Valley, CA (who are also in my winetasting group, BAWDY).

Dear Friends,

We just came back yesterday from Napa and visited wineries generally in the Stag's Leap district along the Silverado trail. It was great to visit the wineries focusing on one AVA. There is more time for tasting and less time spent driving all over Napa county.

Here is a concise review of the wineries we visited.

[Ambience -Service - Price- Quality (1-5)]

Hagafen Cellars
Tasting free with coupon (4-3-3-3)

Darioush
Tasting $25 (5-4-4-4)
Owner is Persian Dariuos Khaladi, who made his money in grocery business. The winery is in homage to Persian architecture. It is very pretty, perhaps a bit gaudy.

Image of Darioush Winery via Snooth

Chimney Rock
Tasting $25 (4-5-4-4). Carla Bosco, pourer: She was very gracious and knowledgeable. The winery is influenced by Dutch architecture. Wines got 90 plus points from WS.

Regusci
Tasting $15 (2-2-3-2)

Clos du Val
Tasting $10 (3-3-3-3)

Robert Sinskey
Tasting $20 (3-2-4-4) Good Pinot Noir.

Stag's Leap Vineyard
Tasting $30, free compliments of Ben de Leon (3-4-5-5).

Image of Chimney Rock Winery via Snooth

We bought a bottle of the 2005 Cabernet from the Stag's Leap (the vineyard where the Cab won in the Paris tasting of '76).

Rutherford:

Beaulieu Vineyard
Free to club members (5-3-5-5). Tasting for club members is downstairs in a private area. George La Tour Reserve Collection are tasty. Jim now has a wine fridge full of the BV Collection.

Salute,

Jim and Lina