THE WINE INSIDERS: News From Napa

VIDEO: Barnett Vineyards Harvest Party

2008-06-04T09:06:00.000-07:00

We join Barnett Vineyards at their annual harvest party up on Spring Mountain in Napa Valley and celebrate the release of the new Barnett Spring Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 that we rated 92 points

BUY Barnett Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 - $65

VIDEO: Textbook Cabernet 2005

2008-02-14T13:41:00.001-08:00

Join us as we taste the new Textbook Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 with proprietor Jonathan Pey.

Buy Textbook Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 ($49)

FREE SHIPPING on 6+ Bottles!

VIDEO: Tasting Silver Oak Napa Valley 2003

2008-01-15T20:52:00.000-08:00

Join us as we taste the new Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 with Silver Oak co-owner David Duncan and winemaker Daniel Baron. Purchase Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2003 ($99)

VIDEO: Top 12 Wines of 2007

2007-12-13T08:26:00.001-08:00

Join us the Wine Insiders team reveals their Top 12 Wines of 2007. Click the image below to watch...

Featuring: (Click to Purchase!)
Meyer Cabernet Napa 2004 ($59)
Calafia Cellars Meritage 2004 ($39)
Ramey Cabernet Napa 2005 ($49)
Martin Estate Cabernet Napa 2003 ($75)
Chateau Boswell Cabernet “Beckstoffer” 2005 ($89)
Turnbull Black 2004 ($99)
Fourteen Apellations Cabernet 2004 ($124)
Pahlmeyer Jayson Pinot Noir 2005 ($65)
Pelerin “Mesa Del Sol” Syrah 2005 ($44)
Reynolds Merlot 2004 ($42)
Chateau Boswell Chardonnay 2005 ($69)
Levendi Chardonnay 2005 ($36)

VIDEO: Perfect Thanksgiving Pairings

2007-11-04T23:15:00.001-08:00

The Wine Insiders invite you to our special Thanksgiving celebration! Join us as we seek out perfect holiday pairings and try some new spins on classic Thanksgiving recipes that make them even more wine-friendly. We taste the BRAND NEW Prisoner Zinfandel Blend 2006, Caymus Special Selection Cabernet 2005 and many, many more amazing wines that will make this year's Thanksgiving celebration unforgettable! Click the image below to watch...

Starring (In order of appearance):
Ramey Chardonnay Hudson 2005 ($59)
Silver Pines Pinot Noir 2005 ($49)
Patz & Hall Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2006 ($37)
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection 2005 ($159)
Orin Swift The Prisoner 2006 ($33)
Martin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Bacchanal 2004 ($49)
Meyer Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2004 ($59)

VIDEO: Silver Oak Cellars

2007-10-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

The Wine Insiders present a visit to Silver Oak. Join co-owner David Duncan and winemaker Daniel Baron as they taste the new Cabernet release and a special barrel sample preview!

VIDEO: Twomey Merlot 2004

2007-10-02T09:49:00.000-07:00

Join us for a tasting of the new 2004 Twomey Merlot with Silver Oak/Twomey co-owner Tim Duncan and winemaker Daniel Baron at the winery's new location on Westside Road in Sonoma County!
Click below to purchase any of the wines featured in this video:
Silver Oak's Twomey Merlot 2004 - ($64)

VIDEO: Duckhorn Vineyards

2007-10-01T09:44:00.000-07:00

We recently spent the day with Napa legend Dan Duckhorn and his talented winemaker, Bill Nancarrow. Watch the video below and you'll learn some insider secrets about the production of Duckhorn's rarest Merlot and Cabernet...
Click below to purchase any of the wines featured in this video:
Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 2004 - ($95)
Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon Rector Creek 2004 - ($99)
Duckhorn Merlot Estate 2004 - ($85)

VIDEO: JOHN ANTHONY VINEYARDS

2007-08-13T13:17:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder what it takes to take a winery from dirt to a 92 point rating in the Wine Spectator magazine? Our friend John Anthony has done this successfully in just a few years and we spent a day with him recently to capture his meteoric rise in the world of Napa Cabernet! Click on the video link below and enjoy this 8 minute video while John shatters any myths about the glamour life of a winemaker and reveals secrets about his challenging days, “freaking out” during harvest, and the perfect hamburger/Cabernet pairing.
Click below to purchase any of the wines featured in this podcast:
John Anthony Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 ($54)
John Anthony Syrah 2004 ($37)
John Anthony Sauvignon Blanc ($29.99)

The Allure Of Youth

2007-06-29T11:19:00.000-07:00

I know: A 2005 Cabernet from Napa?? Isn’t that a bit young for a big Napa Cab? Well usually yes, but the youth effect here is more akin to veal and lamb than it is undercooked chicken. Ok, gross analogies aside, I loved this cab when I tried it last week. I’ve always loved the Caymus Napa Cabernet, feeling it delivers 95% of the Special Selection at 1/2 the price- ain’t nothing wrong with that! Full throttle dark fruit, enthusiastic tannins that leave no doubt this wine means business, and rich blueberry and raspberry concentrate make for just a tease of what’s to come. Think espresso, mocha, tobacco, mineral notes of graphite and flint, and a finish to rival the Energizer Bunny. Get it while you can, we nearly blew through our entire allocation (one of the largest in CA) in one day. Buy, keep, or drink now through 2015 at a minimum. - E. SMITH

WI Taste: 96
WI Value: 97

Unfiltered, Unabashed, Undeniably Californian

2007-06-29T11:15:00.001-07:00

The strangest thing happened when we tried the new vintage of Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay.: As we were all gushing, someone said, "This tastes like the quintessential California Chardonnay." Not sooner than the words were uttered, we all said at the same time, “Or at least what we wish the quintessential CA Chard tasted like.” Because it’s true, so rarely do we ever get to taste that perfectly-balanced, complex and juicy Chardonnay that doesn’t overload. Tons of opulent fruit that, while not as viscous as the 2004, shows purity that I’ve been hard-pressed to find lately. Partially due - I’m sure - to the delicate acidity lingering in the background. This is stunning wine that makes you feel more sophisticated just by drinking it. - E. SMITH

WI Taste: 95
WI Value: 93

HUSIC CABERNET 2004

2007-06-14T13:03:00.000-07:00

You would think that with the amount of expensive Napa Cabs out there, finding an amazing bottle wouldn’t be that difficult. But it is, partially because it takes that rare intersection of winemaking skill, winegrower ability, and most importantly, phenomenal terroir to create that wine. When I tasted the Husic Vineyards Estate 2004 Cabernet all these factors had collided to produce one of the most intense, powerful and elegant Cabs I’ve had in a very long time. At $125 you would expect an amazing wine and this one is, and worth every penny. It has an incredibly silky texture which almost betrays just how rich it is. Concentrated blackberry, espresso, graphite, baking spices, and cocoa swirl together in a symphony of flavors that deliver for minutes on the palate AND the finish. I know it sounds cliché, but this wine to me has all the trappings to become one of the top collector wines to come out of Napa. Only her 4th vintage as winemaker with Husic, Celia Masyczek has certainly crafted a wine that will live up to her other wines, particularly those of famed D.R. Stephens. E SMITH

WI Taste: 95
WI Value: 91

VIDEO: CONSTANT VINEYARDS DIAMOND MOUNTAIN, NAPA

2007-05-23T12:58:00.000-07:00

Join us for an insiders-only visit to Constant Diamond Mountain Vineyards - perhaps the most scenic and exclusive winery in all of Napa Valley.

Click below to purchase any of the wines featured in this podcast:
Constant Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 ($79)
Constant Claret 2002 ($69)
Constant Syrah 2004 ($69)

The Other Silver

2007-05-14T11:20:00.000-07:00

It’s starting to heat up here in California, which may have made this wine even more appealing to me, but nonetheless the Mer Soleil Silver Unoaked Chardonnay 2006 blew me away. Coming from Caymus’ Santa Lucia Highlands vineyard, it just highlights again how on their game the Wagners are. I tend to prefer aromatics over oak, and fruit over butter, and this wine offers up boatloads of both. Despite it being all stainless fermentation it still had tremendous body and richness rarely found in unoaked whites. The Aussies have been making and drinking tons of unoaked Chards for years now, but for some reason, the American palate has been slow to catch on, which I find a huge shame considering how food friendly this wine is while at the same time being the perfect summer cocktail wine. Topping off its fresh profile is a screw cap closure (also ever-present in Aussieland) that maintains its dazzling crispness and vibrancy. It’s not cheap at around $45 a bottle, but its exotic spice, pear, apple, orange peel, crisp minerality and long finish more than deliver on value. E SMITH
WI Taste: 93 Points
WI Value: 90 Points

MEYER, MEYER ON THE WALL, WHO'S THE MERUS OF THEM ALL?

2007-05-04T10:21:00.000-07:00

I got a sneak peak taste yesterday of the new 2004 Meyer Vineyard Cabernet, from Hestan Vineyards. Though the winery is relatively new (10 years old) by Napa standards, the owners spared no expense and brought in Mark Herold of Merus fame as winemaker. This explains why as soon as I tasted this wine I immediately thought “cult wine” profile. While I’ll be the last to praise a wine because of its cult status or profile made to impress critics rather than on its own merits, sometimes a wine just really is undeniably delicious, regardless of its “cult handicap.” So the good news here is this Meyer Cab has not reached cult status yet, costs $100 less than Herold’s other wines (particularly his 96 point Merus,) AND will send anyone to their happiest place for the duration of the bottle. I loved it’s plushy texture, dusty satiny tannins, cocoa powder, espresso, dark berries, tobacco, and cedar on the palate, and finally its seemingly interminable finish.
WI Taste: 94 points
WI Value: 92 points

WE KNEW THEM WAY BACK WHEN...

2007-04-26T13:10:00.000-07:00

We’ve all heard it before, the inferred compliment of “oh, it’s undiscovered, still under the radar” as if obscurity confers greater quality than something already discovered. Who hasn’t at one point boasted about listening to a band BEFORE they made it big, or better yet, you went to the concert! So it’s with great trepidation that I pull that “compliment” when describing how I feel about the Clos Saron “Sacre Bleu” Syrah, 2003. Only 100 cases were made by this micro-producer (in the Sierra Foothills no less, you know that “undiscovered” region) by winemaker Gideon Beinstock. With no plans to ever make more than 2000 cases a year total for all his different varietals and blends, Gideon is assuring himself and us, that quality will always be the first priority. Interestingly, Syrah isn’t even the winery’s first priority, it’s Pinot Noir, which couldn’t be more opposite from a Syrah, though it does explain his attention to purity and craft.

Still a baby at 4 years old, this wine has so much going on that it’s hard to truly nail down what I like the most about it. Inky, intense, with sharp berry flavors balanced by a stone minerality rarely found in CA wines under $70 are a few for starters. The nose is almost archetypal with violets, black pepper and a hint of smoked meat, reminiscent of a serious Cote Rotie. What really strikes me about this wine though is the line it walks between typical full fruit-forward CA Syrahs and the more mineral, earthy and restrained Rhone style Syrahs I really love. It will take at least an hour of decanting however for this balance to show, as when you first uncork it is so massive and tight that you get more texture than actual flavors on the palate. But wait a bit and sit back and enjoy a wine experience you’ll be hard pressed to find again from under-$40 Syrah from California. Wait a few more years and you’ll really have a hard time figuring out where it came from. E SMITH
WI Score: 94pts

VIDEO: EXCLUSIVE TOUR AND TASTING WITH PAHLMEYER WINEMAKER ERIN GREEN

2007-04-02T10:19:00.000-07:00

Join us for a private tour of Pahlmeyer's new Sonoma Coast vineyards and an exclusive tasting of the latest 'Jayson' releases with winemaker Erin Green. Get the 'insider scoop' and learn how Pahlemeyer crafts some of the most highly sought after collector wines in America. Also, sign up here to wine a FREE bottle of 'Jayson' Chardonnay and 'Jayson' Cabernet for YOUR collection.

Click below to purchase any of the wines featured in this podcast:
Jayson Chardonnay 2005 ($39)
Jayson Red Wine 2004 ($59)
Jayson Pinot Noir 2005: coming this Summer. Contact Us for details.

VIDEO: DUCKHORN'S Goldeneye Pinot Noir Tasting

2007-02-27T09:12:00.000-08:00

An exclusive tour and tasting at Duckhorn's Goldeneye Pinot Noir winery. Join us as sample the new vintages and talk with winemaker Zach Rasmuson about the challenges and rewards of making Pinot Noir. Also, Sign up here to win a FREE bottle of the new 2005 Migration Pinot Noir + a bottle of 2004 Goldeneye Pinot Noir autographed by winemaker Zach Rasmuson!

Click below to purchase any of the wines featured in this podcast:
Migration Pinot Noir 2005 ($33)
Goldeneye Pinot Noir 2004 ($54)
Goldeneye Pinot Noir 6 Bottle Sampler Pack ($315)

Click anywhere on black box below to begin viewing the video:

LINK: Watch/subscribe on iTunes and download to your iPod!

EPISODE 9: Our Top Holiday Wines

2006-12-11T08:57:00.000-08:00

Join us for TheWineInsiders.com team ‘tasting’ where we reveal for you our finest new ‘insider-only’ discoveries for this Holiday season. Our team has tasted over 5,000 wines this and now we’ll let you know about the best-of-the-best new releases. We’ll highlight our favorite bargain reds, special occasion pinots, and our #1 celebration Champagne. Listen now and sign up here to WIN a Free bottle of one of these special recommendations!

LISTEN

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EPISODE 8: The Prisoner Zin Unlocked.

2006-10-30T08:57:00.000-08:00

We met with 'Prisoner' owner/winemaker Dave Phinney and enjoyed a special sneak preview tasting of the new Prisoner 2005 blend recently. During our exclusive interview, our friend Dave reveals his 'secret' formula for success that has led The Prisoner to become the most highly sought after Napa Zinfandel blend with a 'cult' following that approaches the fanatacism of a $100+ Cabernet! The Prisoner Zinfandel is widely regarded by Napa insiders as the best red wine bargain at a price of only $33/bottle, but today we have a special offer of only $29.99/bottle! Sign up here at TheWineInsiders.com to win a bottle of the new 2005 Prisonder Zinfandel blend or the rare Orin Swift Mercury Head 2003 Cabernet!

LISTEN

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EPISODE 7: Silver Oak Secrets Revealed.

2006-10-15T23:45:00.000-07:00

The Silver Oak ownership team of Tim and David Duncan reveal their “secret to success” crafting the #1 Collector Cabernet in America and the highly rated Silver Oak “Twomey” Merlot rated #1 by Robert Parker last year. Listen now to discover intriguing information about the history of Silver Oak, the inspiration for Twomey, and a few surprising revelations about the lengths some thirsty Silver Oak fans will go to acquire this renowned wine. Sign up here at TheWineInsiders.com to win an extremely rare FREE AUTOGRAPHED Magnum of Silver Oak Cabernet and a Free Autographed bottle of Twomey Merlot.

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EPISODE 6: Nickel & Nickel's Secret Cabernet Formula For Success.

2006-09-25T01:41:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the new releases of Far Niente/Nickel & Nickel's rare vineyard designate Cabernets, we met with Director of Winemaking Dirk Hampson to sample his tasty new vintage! To listen to our interview and learn about these sensational new wines, click on the links below. Sign up here to register to win a free bottle of one of the wines we tasted today! Listen here for an exclusive 'Insiders' tour and tasting at one of Napa's most renowned new 'boutique' wineries, plus, learn about Dirk's history starting Far Niente with founder Gil Nickel over two decades ago. Also, find out about Nickel & Nickel's rarest new Cabernet releases and how they stack up to the Bordeaux's best, in Dirk's opinion!
LISTEN
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EPISODE 5: Blue Rock Vineyards - Tasting the 2003 Vintage.

2006-09-06T11:03:00.000-07:00

Blue Rock's vineyard sits high in the Alexander Valley in 'Cabernet Heaven' overlooking the famous Silver Oak winery! However, Blue Rock is a truly undiscovered 'boutique' winery producing a fraction of the amount of wine as their famous neighbor and selling primarily to their own private mailing list...until now! We recently talked to owner Kenny Kahn about the history of Blue Rock and tasted his delicious new 2003 releases.
LISTEN
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EPISODE 4: Barnett Vineyards - How to make a collector Cabernet.

2006-08-28T09:18:00.000-07:00

Today, we travel to the top of Spring Mountain in Napa to talk with renowned winemaker Nile Zacherle, a true rising start in Napa Valley. Click on the link(s) below and hear the step by step process Nile goes through to produce one of the most highly sought after Collector Cabernets in America! If you’ve ever wondered what happens from the Vine to the Bottle listen closely for the inside scoop.
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EPISODE 3: Ladera Cabernet - How to build a winery in Napa.

2006-08-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

Today we visit the Ladera Winery high atop Howell Mountain on the Eastern side of Napa Valley. We meet with the owners of Ladera and their renowned winemaker to find out how they transitioned from their cattle ranch in Montana to building one of Napa’s most highly sought after Collector Cabernets. Listen carefully to learn how the “Horse Whisperer” film led to a Cabernet Sauvignon rated “Outstanding” by the Wine Spectator magazine.
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EPISODE 2: Jayson Pahlmeyer discloses his Chardonnay secrets.

2006-08-04T09:41:00.000-07:00

Jayson Pahlmeyer has been producing Napa reds and Chardonnay with a “cult” following for over twenty years now and we recently sat down with him for our second “THE WINE INSIDERS : News from Napa” audio Podcast. Pahlmeyer wines immediately became collector favorites once Robert Parker ordained the first vintage as “Classics” and then they reached “cult” status when the Wine Spectator magazine named Pahlmeyer Chardonnay “Wine of the Year” and then Demi Moore named this her “favorite wine in the world” in the 1994 blockbuster film Disclosure. Click on one of the links below and listen to Jayson Pahlmeyer describe his adventures in winemaking, his relationship with Helen Turley + Robert Parker, and his favorite food and wine pairings. If you get thirsty while listening, click on the link below to order the newly released Pahlmeyer 2004 Napa Chardonnay before we sell out because the Wine Spectator just rated this wine “Outstanding 93” points!
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EPISODE 1: How to taste wine with Margaret Duckhorn

2006-08-03T10:32:00.000-07:00

Margaret Duckhorn, founding partner of Duckhorn Vineyards -- America’s #1 collector Merlot - - sits down with Porthos President Hal Oates to taste her finest new releases. Enjoy this exclusive insider access to learn how one of the most renowned winery icons in California swirls, sips, and slurps her winery’s highly sought after Estate Merlot, new Pinot Noir, and proprietary Zinfandel blend.
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