pisangbet
Napa Valley | Cabernet Sauvignon | Wine Test napa city | Archives | napa city https://napacity.com/tag/napa-valley-cabernet-sauvignon-wine-test-napa-city/ Tour and Travel in Napa City Fri, 30 Sep 2022 10:33:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 https://napacity.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/fev.svg Napa Valley | Cabernet Sauvignon | Wine Test napa city | Archives | napa city https://napacity.com/tag/napa-valley-cabernet-sauvignon-wine-test-napa-city/ 32 32 10 best Napa wines under $100 (red & white) https://napacity.com/10-best-napa-wines-under-100-red-white/ Sun, 25 Sep 2022 16:46:58 +0000 https://napacity.com/?p=3681 Introduction When trying to find the right Napa Valley wine to buy, whether it’s for a special occasion or for a simple dinner, it might seem that there are only…

The post 10 best Napa wines under $100 (red & white) appeared first on napa city.

]]>

Introduction

When trying to find the right Napa Valley wine to buy, whether it’s for a special occasion or for a simple dinner, it might seem that there are only expensive options on the market. However, there are many affordable wines that you can enjoy without emptying your pockets. In this article we’ll cover the 10 best Napa Valley wines that cost less than $100.

Red wine recommendations

  • 2018 Bevan Cellars Ontogeny
Having been given a score of 95/100 by the famous wine critic Robert Parker, and averaging on $95 per bottle, this Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely worth a try. It has a deep purple color, aromas of cassis, black cherries and plums, a full body, pleasant minerality and tastes of black fruit and spices. All in all, a characteristic Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley.
  • Vineyard 29 Cru Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Once opened, this Cabernet Sauvignon reveals all its secrets. Grilled meat, chocolate, and cherry scents are all there. This wine, which is made from grapes from various Napa Valley vineyards, perfectly captures the wonderful diversity the valley has to offer. Cassis, plums, black peppercorns, and fresh tobacco leaf are the main notes in this tannic and structured wine. Long and heavy in the finish, this wine maintains its character the entire time.
  • 2019 Frank Family Napa Valley Zinfandel
At 45$ this elegant, complex Zinfandel has layer upon layer of crushed clove, fresh blackberry, and creamy mocha aromas. It is beautifully balanced and intensely concentrated. Plum compote, violet, thyme, and black pepper flavors are given structural weight by the silky smoothness of the fine-grained tannins
  • Mira Syrah Hyde Vineyard 2017
For an average of $90 you can taste one of the greatest Syrah wines that Napa Valley has to offer. One of the darkest red wines, full-bodied and fruit-forward. Intense flavors of blackcurrants, cured meats (think charcuterie), pepper, and anise are followed by aromas of dark blackberry, currants, white pepper, gravel, and leather in Mira’s Syrah.
  • 2018 Hall Napa Valley Merlot
This 2018 Napa Valley Merlot has a deep red hue and a seductive fragrance with notes of violet, ripe cherry, and toasty baking spices. The ripe red fruits, chocolate, and dusty tannins are lavishly layered on the palate, which has a smooth structure. This traditional Napa Valley Merlot has a lengthy, lively finish with lingering graphite overtones.

White wines recommendations

  • 2021 Darioush signature Viognier Napa Valley
Viognier is a rarity in Napa Valley, but you can taste it for just $55. Fragrant, seductive, and unusual. When produced in the cooler climates of Oak Knoll and Los Carneros, where heavy morning fog and brisk afternoon breezes allow this delicate varietal to develop slowly and completely, Darioush Signature Viognier shows its innately bright and lively flavor. Signature Viognier is distinguished by its core of rich stone fruit and profuse floral aromas.
  • 2020 Haynes Vineyard Old Vine Chardonnay
The 2020 has a long finish, is bright, briny, and mineral with a citrus strength. It strikes a mix between dazzling freshness, delicate creaminess, and unexpected depth. These vines of Chardonnay are the oldest in Napa Valley, having been planted in 1967. A lengthy, moderate growing season is produced in the Coombsville bowl by the cooling effect of San Pablo Bay. Acidity and a special blend of strength and elegance are attributes of the vineyard’s complex soils.
  • 2019 Larkmead Vineyards ‘Lillie’ Sauvignon Blanc
This Sauvignon Blanc has a distinctive pear and river rock scent, a lean texture and a strong mineral flavor. The strong acidity makes it very refreshing and a perfect pair for light dishes like a salad or a cheese platter. A must have for your next dinner party.
  • 2018 Arietta On The White Keys White Blend
This 2018 blend of 87% Sauvignon Blanc and 13% old vine Semillon is outstanding thanks to Northern California’s exceptional 2018 vintage. The white Bordeaux-style blend that Arietta aspires to create has a mouthwateringly brilliant opening and a regal, expansive finish.

The Arietta movement from Beethoven’s final piano sonata, Opus 111, is included in the label. The Arietta theme’s melody, which is played exclusively on the piano’s white keys, is the key to the wine’s name.
  • 2019 Matthiasson White Blend
Steve Matthiasson created the perfect light wine by combining 4 different Italian grapes. With oysters, lemon chicken, and grilled vegetables, this thirst-quenching white goes perfectly. It has an excellent texture, complexity, and minerality along with a vibrant acidity. Not only that, but it’s organic, made by grapes from vineyards where no synthetic pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides are used.

2019 Matthiasson White Blend

Steve Matthiasson created the perfect light wine by combining 4 different Italian grapes. With oysters, lemon chicken, and grilled vegetables, this thirst-quenching white goes perfectly. It has an excellent texture, complexity, and minerality along with a vibrant acidity. Not only that, but it’s organic, made by grapes from vineyards where no synthetic pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides are used.

The post 10 best Napa wines under $100 (red & white) appeared first on napa city.

]]>
A guide to great Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon https://napacity.com/a-guide-to-great-napa-valley-cabernet-sauvignon/ Sun, 25 Sep 2022 16:21:27 +0000 https://napacity.com/?p=3607 Introduction As the countries of the new world are becoming more and more popular amongst wine lovers, there are many different winemaking regions appearing on our radars. One of these…

The post A guide to great Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon appeared first on napa city.

]]>

Introduction

As the countries of the new world are becoming more and more popular amongst wine lovers, there are many different winemaking regions appearing on our radars. One of these regions is none other than Napa Valley in California, USA, with the star of the region being its Cabernet Sauvignon. The variety might have originated in Bordeaux, France, but it expresses itself amazingly when cultivated in Napa Valley, due to the warm coastal climate that these regions have in common.

A brief history lesson about Napa Valley

The first vineyards are believed to have been planted by George Yount, a European-American settler in 1838 and the first winery was established 20 years later in the area. However, in the beginning of the 20th century, the outbreak of phylloxera, a disease that heavily affects vines, the great depression, the second World War and the alcohol prohibition that followed, brought the production of Californian wines to a halt.

What revived the winemaking of the area was the fact that in 1976, the wines of Napa Vary won against Bordeaux and Burgundy wines in the Paris Judgment. Ever since, the wines of the area have only grown in popularity and can be sold for very high prices.

What to expect from a good quality Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Generally the Cabernet wines of the area have a medium alcoholic content, they are dry and full bodied with a high acidity and prominent tannins. They have very distinct ripe red fruit aromas that allow the wines to age for many years and keep developing even more complex aromas and flavors like coffee, leather, tobacco and earthy notes like mushrooms and forest floor

Some notable wine subregions of Napa Valley

There are 16 winemaking sub regions of the Napa valley, bur here we’ll cover some of the most famous ones.

The Napa Valley’s distinctive geography changes the climate, providing a variety of mesoclimates inside the valley. Due to its proximity to San Pablo Bay, which directs sea breezes and morning fog up the valley, the open southern end of the valley is kept chilly. A gap in the Mayacamas mountains at Chalk Hill allows evening winds from the Pacific to chill the valley’s northern end, which is typically much warmer. With “mountain Cabernets” offering structure and freshness and valley floor wines delivering greater opulence and richness, growing temperatures vary according to the sites’ various altitudes.

  • Calistoga AVA
The Calistoga AVA, one of the warmest regions in the valley, is located at the farthest north. The warmer climate of Calistoga tends to produce Cabernet Sauvignon with notes of baked fruit, cassis, and cedar. It is the home of Chateau Montelena, whose 1976 Judgment of Paris fame (watch the movie “Bottle Shock” if you’re interested in learning more about this) is legendary.
  • Stags Leap District
One of the AVAs in Napa Valley that is easiest to recognize. The AVA is small and narrow, but it has gained particular notoriety for Cabernet Sauvignon since Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars introduced their Cabernet in Paris in 1976. The violet, cherry, and delicate tannin aromas that Stags Leap Cabernet wines frequently have give the wines an attractive freshness. The loose, free-draining volcanic soil, which promotes modest yields of high-quality fruit, is largely responsible for the AVA’s success.

Food pairings for great Napa Cabernet Sauvignons

Rich meaty and earthy notes are complemented by the Napa Cabernet’s sturdy, sophisticated structure and deep blackberry characteristics. Beef, venison, and lamb are all great options for red meats and game, while vegetarian options like portobello mushrooms stuffed with goat cheese and pesto also go well.

When and how to drink high quality Cabernets from Napa Valley

Although Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is typically ready to be consumed, 5–10 years of aging will frequently be advantageous. Wines from select producers can age even longer, occasionally for up to 20 years. Best served at room temperature (17°C or 6°F) to highlight the wine’s warm, fruity flavor.

The post A guide to great Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon appeared first on napa city.

]]>