Napa Valley

• Atlas Peak
• Best of Napa
• Calistoga
• Conn Valley
• Diamond Mountain
• Howell Mountain
• Mt. Veeder
• Oak Knoll
• Oakville
• Pope Valley
• Rutherford
• Spring Mountain
• St. Helena
• Stags Leap
• Yountville

I am a big fan of Tench wines, but this is the first Sauvignon Blanc of theirs that I can recall tasting.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is a bit quiet but has  some tropical fruits along with a slight pear note.  Medium bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is a bit more expressive.  Flavors of Guava and pair with just the slightest grassiness.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and  should continue for another three to five years.  It is nice on its own and will work well with lighter foods. A nice pairing would be stuffed peppers.  

Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has an earthiness along with black olives and cassis. Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, flavors of cassis, black cherries and spice.  Nice finish.  Overall, a pretty classic Stags Leap Cab that is just getting to maturity.  Drink over the next ten years.  It is nice on its own and will work with many foods. It would work well with Roasted Root Vegetable Casserole.  

This is quite young and tight and needs another five to ten years of good cellaring - minimum.  Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is very tight.  Showing a bit of cassis, some cherries, spice and char.  On the palate, firm tannins.  Full bodied.  This wine seems shut down for the moment but there are some sweet cherries.  Moderate finish.  This wine has great structure and in due time, should be gorgeous.  This is an expensive wine and should be held for a decade and drunk for twenty to thirty years after that. 

This is a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Merlot from Napa.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, black cherries, spice, and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, flavors of black cherries, cassis, char and earth.  Long finish.  This is still on the young side but drinking well.  It should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this would be a classic steak house wine but will also work with roasted Butternut Squash.  

This is the first time trying a wine from this winery.  Impressive.  100% Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, graphite, dark chocolate and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, this is tasty with flavors of cassis, black cherries, spice, and slight dark chocolate.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now and should have another eight to twelve years left, at least.  very nice on its own, this will work well with many foods.  Braised Lamb shanks should work very well.  

This is the "signature" Cabernet from Shafer.  It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, char, graphite, slight blueberries and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Nice texture.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Flavors of cassis, slight blueberries with a touch of tobacco, spice and char.  Long finish.  This is drinking well if not yet at peak.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  It is great on its own and would work well with foods.  A nice choice with a slow cooked Pot Roast.