Mary Pisor and Nils Venge

Saddleback Cellars - It is always a pleasure to see Nils Venge and Mary Pisor, and they are certainly amongst my favorite friends in this business. Tonight they are pouring the 1996 Venge Merlot. Rich color - savory black plums in the nose - pleasing weight and density in the mouth with smoky overtones, and great intensity. I don't like Merlot, BUT... This wine is an absolute knockout with interesting Rhoneish nuances.

Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard - I can remember tasting a 1974 Duriff from these folks that was just wonderful, but this is the first time I've had an opportunity to meet Ken Burnap and in his wine maker Jeff Emery.

1996 Chardonnay S. Miller Vineyard - light tangerine nose - rich mouth feel with a pleasant melange of fruit. A very pretty wine.

1993 Cabernet Sauvignon - dense color - mysterious nose of black stone fruits and spice - very rich flavors with pleasing intensity. Delish!!

Jeff Emery and Ken Burnap

Saucelito Canyon- 1996 Zinfandel - deep ruby color - very (not over) ripe fruit in the nose - pleasing intensity on the palate, and showing as well now as last January. A lovely drinkable Zinfandel. I look forward to tasting their 97s in January at ZAP.

Shafer Vineyards - 1996 Red Shoulder Chardonnay - medium color – pretty, sweet tangerine and floral aromas - pleasing flavors of pear in the mouth - very nice wine.

1996 Napa Merlot - pretty ruby color - restrained in the nose - smooth plum and currant flavors with a touch of briar in the finish.

Shari Staglin

Staglin Family Vineyard - I had an opportunity to meet Garin Staglin at the Cal-Italia tasting a couple of weeks ago, and tonight I'm pleased to meet his wife Shari.

1995 Cabernet Sauvignon - rich ruby color - shy Cabernet fruit and spice in the nose - medium weight rich and delicious flavors - good balance and a clean finish.

Storrs Winery - after tasting several of their wines, and hearing such nice things about these people from Jason and geo, I was really looking forward to meeting them.

1997 Santa Cruz Mountains Zinfandel - pretty garnet color - purple plum and spice in the nose - lovely sweet fruit on the palate with beautiful balance - an excellent Zinfandel for twenty dollars.

My last stop of the day was at Stony Hill Vineyards, and I was fortunate to catch Willinda McCrea just as she was preparing to leave. Despite having spent in a very long day at this event, she was willing to chat and poured me two of her Chardonnays. She and her late husband, Fred, have produced some wonderful Reislings and legendary Chardonnays from this Napa estate.

Willinda McCrea

1993 Chardonnay has rich and full flavors on the palate with pleasing spice and acid, and will continue to improve for several years.

1996 Chardonnay is still a very young wine and needs sometime in bottle to smooth out a bit, but is obviously a well structured wine. I thank Ms. McCrea for sharing some of her time with me.

Tasting Notes From the Following Wineries

Amador Foothill Winery

Araujo Estate Wines

Chateau Montelena

Corison

Von Strasser
Vineyards

Fisher Vineyards

Laurel Glen

Navarro Vineyards

Babcock

Mayo Family

McDowell Valley
Vineyards

Michel-Schlumberger
    Benchland Wine Estate

Random Ridge

Ravenswood

Saddleback Cellars

Santa Cruz Mountain
Vineyard

Saucelito Canyon

Shafer Vineyards

Staglin Family Vineyard

Storrs Winery

Stony Hill Vineyards