TN: Bistro Jeanty in Napa, Tablas Creek, etc.

I actually remembered others suggesting that, but we were with our hosts, and it seemed impolite to argue with what the locals would like to do. I think if I go again, I'll aim for Silverado trail (Phelps, maybe) and way north Napa like Montelena. It was pretty funny on highway seeing people going for tastings at Sutter Home (oops, I'm getting elitist)

I had forgotten you had gone, but just dejanewsed it, pretty similar impressions on wines.

best to Jean!

Dale

Dale Williams Drop "damnspam" to reply

The best idea is to go to Sonoma County the next time there is a desire to go to Napa. Going to restaurants in Napa can be handled very easily by coming into the valley from the north end from Healdsburg. There are very very few wineries in Sonoma County that have tasting fees.

Though Highway 29 is the biggest magnet for tourists and mediocre wineries, there are a few standouts among the crowd. True, is completely unbearable in the summertime and on weekends piling up with single lane traffic, but having lived there for a bit I do appreciate just how dense it is. It was pretty nice being able to stop off on the way home from work to a few wineries and taste a few dozen wines with people that were passionate about them; even if they werent all something that I would buy. Some of my favorites from 29 would include Rutherford Grove Winery, Milat, Cardinal, St. Clement, and recently Provenence. All relatively small and intimate but producing a few standout wines. The Silverado trail is wonderful. Personally I am the most found of Stags Leap District wines, so I spent a lot of time over there. Sinsky, Regusci, Clos du Val, Cas Nuestra, etc., all places that I go to time and time again. Sometimes it can be easy to take Napa as a whole for granted given the worldly scope of wine, but to have it as your back yard, or at least as a feasible destination spot is pretty commendable. Great notes Dale, you really put me back there for now.

Amen. Sunday morning, just for a jaunt, we ran out to St. Clement. A little hint to visitors: most people seem to start south and work their way north. So drive up to Calistoga for breakfast and work your way south. You'd be stunned, it's like having your own private Napa Valley until after lunch.

Then, shunt over to the Silverado Trail for the afternoon.

Dana

Good point Dana, there is certainly an advantage to working your way down from north to south in the valley to avoid the flow; and be sure to check out St. Clement's Sauvignon Blanc. On par with St. Suprey as far as a nice steely, unoaked SB with really racy acidity.

Heavens yes. Funny, there's still a few bottles of it right here (the StC SB... super stuff)

Also, as I mentioned in another thread, even my back-yard friends are growing some great SB, Ledgewood Creek Winery. steely, unoaked, fruity and supported by a minerally body.

Gawd I love California.

;-) Dana