Recommendations on places to stay in Calistoga?

Happy Wednesday.

Excellent! 2013 was a nice vintage in Napa if I remember right. Had a 2013 Cardinale a couple of years back that was singing.

Barnett is a great producer as well.

Scribe is good stuff. Magnum rose is something

Thanks for posting that chart. One of my favorite things about Brunello is the annual variation in the wine based on the growing season weather. I remember tasting the 2014 from the barrel alongside the 2013 when we visited Capanna and being shocked at how different they were considering it was the same producer and vines.

that is one hell of a photo bomb by the top shelf in the background

jackie childs said:

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that is one hell of a photo bomb by the top shelf in the background

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Haha, I like bourbon better than wine but I love both.

Pappas Bros Dallas Cabs for Dads event!

They didn't tell us they were including us. They've been fans for a long time.

Nice. What vintage of Harlan is that one?

BSD said:

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Nice. What vintage of Harlan is that one?

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2005

Nice. I guess my eyes are getting bad. I thought it could be the 2002 (the only Harlan I have left)

Dang somebody dropped some coin….

Sweet!

They have one called the Rattlesnake I believe and it's excellant

Been on a Chardonnay kick lately. I just love how much variety it has and how it can take you a lot of different places.

Popped open a rose of Malbec tonight that is very good on a warm day.

Have a birthday coming up, and Father's Day too, so will likely get more into the cellar for those!

Chipotlemonger said:

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Been on a Chardonnay kick lately. I just love how much variety it has and how it can take you a lot of different places.

Popped open a rose of Malbec tonight that is very good on a warm day.

Have a birthday coming up, and Father's Day too, so will likely get more into the cellar for those!

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what chardonnay you drinking? I had my only two bottles of 2020 Alvina Pernot Puligny-Montrachet la garenne... holy cow were they good, but certainly spendy.


trying to learn more about white burgundy regions/producers, etc.

bularry said:

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Chipotlemonger said:

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Been on a Chardonnay kick lately. I just love how much variety it has and how it can take you a lot of different places.

Popped open a rose of Malbec tonight that is very good on a warm day.

Have a birthday coming up, and Father's Day too, so will likely get more into the cellar for those!

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what chardonnay you drinking? I had my only two bottles of 2020 Alvina Pernot Puligny-Montrachet la garenne... holy cow were they good, but certainly spendy.


trying to learn more about white burgundy regions/producers, etc.

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Very nice.

I've not delved much in Chablis or white Burgundy personally. I would like to learn more given how much I love both Chardonnay and Pinot in general.

Anyways, I've mainly been domestic with Chardonnay, but love what I've tasted of other countries around the world (Australia, South Africa). Here are 2 standouts for various reasons:

• 2021 Chalk Hill Sonoma Coast Chardonnay (~$19) - Great bang for the buck if you're looking to get that Sonoma chardonnay flavor
• 2019 Capensis Silene (South Africa, ~$45) - Bold, great all around Chardonnay characteristics

Notables on deck:

• 2018 Penner Ash Chardonnay (Oregon, ~$50) - One of my favorite Chardonnays of recent memory. Had a bottle last year some time and ordered another. Electric and very enjoyable. Bright, acidic, but with a great body and definitely complex.
• 2018 Stonestreet Upper Barn Vineyard Chardonnay (Alexander Mountain, ~$160)

bularry said:

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Chipotlemonger said:

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Been on a Chardonnay kick lately. I just love how much variety it has and how it can take you a lot of different places.

Popped open a rose of Malbec tonight that is very good on a warm day.

Have a birthday coming up, and Father's Day too, so will likely get more into the cellar for those!

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what chardonnay you drinking? I had my only two bottles of 2020 Alvina Pernot Puligny-Montrachet la garenne... holy cow were they good, but certainly spendy.


trying to learn more about white burgundy regions/producers, etc.

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Puligny-Montrachet is one of my favorite wine regions. I love the style and haven't found much that compares.

Looking for new Napa vineyards recs, will not be there too long (1/2 day, full day, morning then back to SMF) so looking to maximize quantity along with the quality. Not really looking for the 2-3+hr tasting experiences. We'll be staying in Yountville and don't want to waste much time driving so looking to keep things from Napa to St. Helena. Will be starting the 1st 1/2 day in downtown Napa so considering running over to Palmaz and then heading north, any experiences with Palmaz, have heard its a cool visit.

We'll probably have to make a quick stop at Silver Oak at some point for sentimental reasons, so another option along Oakville Cross might be good.

Good chance we make another stop at Chappellet, so another option along Sage Canyon would be useful.

We do like options where we can taste outside with a view over just a tasting room. I will typically buy some bottles from where we stop (especially if it gets the tasting comped), but I'm also not looking to drop $1k+ per stop, so if it's the type of mom & pop shop with high end wine and you're expected to drop some coin for opening their doors for you, that's not for us.

Here's the places we've been, so looking for recs outside of these:

Chappellet
Heitz
Duckhorn
Merryvale
Alpha Omega
Fleury Estate
Stuhlmuller
Preston family
Inglenook
Sullivan
Darioush
Clos du Val
Robert Sinskey
O'Brien
Silver Oak
Plumpjack
Caymus
Mumm

I'm guessing you meant Pestoni Family and not Preston (Dry Creek)?

Anyways, here are some others not on the list that I've been to and enjoyed.

• Goosecross - stones throw from downtown Yountville, neat little property.
• Cakebread - Loved my experience here, lot of fans on TexAgs I believe. I did however just hear a sour story of them not replacing a corked bottle for a family friend. Seemed petty and not what you'd expect or want from a winery.

On that Sage Canyon note, Dakota Shy is an option I think has been discusses on here before? I could be mistaking them for Wheeler Farms. Either way I think they're both similar. I've never been to either but they came to mind and were not on your list.

I would do Schramsberg in St. Helena too. IMO a near must-visit, and especially if you've been to near 20 other Napa wineries and not it.

Chipotlemonger said:

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bularry said:

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Chipotlemonger said:

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Been on a Chardonnay kick lately. I just love how much variety it has and how it can take you a lot of different places.

Popped open a rose of Malbec tonight that is very good on a warm day.

Have a birthday coming up, and Father's Day too, so will likely get more into the cellar for those!

---

what chardonnay you drinking? I had my only two bottles of 2020 Alvina Pernot Puligny-Montrachet la garenne... holy cow were they good, but certainly spendy.


trying to learn more about white burgundy regions/producers, etc.

---

Very nice.

I've not delved much in Chablis or white Burgundy personally. I would like to learn more given how much I love both Chardonnay and Pinot in general.

Anyways, I've mainly been domestic with Chardonnay, but love what I've tasted of other countries around the world (Australia, South Africa). Here are 2 standouts for various reasons:

• 2021 Chalk Hill Sonoma Coast Chardonnay (~$19) - Great bang for the buck if you're looking to get that Sonoma chardonnay flavor
• 2019 Capensis Silene (South Africa, ~$45) - Bold, great all around Chardonnay characteristics

Notables on deck:

• 2018 Penner Ash Chardonnay (Oregon, ~$50) - One of my favorite Chardonnays of recent memory. Had a bottle last year some time and ordered another. Electric and very enjoyable. Bright, acidic, but with a great body and definitely complex.
• 2018 Stonestreet Upper Barn Vineyard Chardonnay (Alexander Mountain, ~$160)

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Holy **** those Upper Barn's go for $160 now?? Wow, I remember drinking some of those sub $60... I guess it has been a while. Jackson family did a good job getting the Stonestreet wines up and going.

I drink tons of domestic chard, we've really become fans of the Santa Barbara area, so primarily Sta Rita Hills AVA fruit. Had a couple of 2020's from Sandhi not long ago, tremendous and both way cheaper than Upper Barn and some less than Penner Ash.

jh0400 said:

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bularry said:

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Chipotlemonger said:

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Been on a Chardonnay kick lately. I just love how much variety it has and how it can take you a lot of different places.

Popped open a rose of Malbec tonight that is very good on a warm day.

Have a birthday coming up, and Father's Day too, so will likely get more into the cellar for those!

---

what chardonnay you drinking? I had my only two bottles of 2020 Alvina Pernot Puligny-Montrachet la garenne... holy cow were they good, but certainly spendy.


trying to learn more about white burgundy regions/producers, etc.

---

Puligny-Montrachet is one of my favorite wine regions. I love the style and haven't found much that compares.

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I wish I knew more about it. Most of my white burg experience so far has been with Meursault, which I've enjoyed, even the village level from Fichet is really tasty for ~$80 depending on where you find it.