There are hundreds of Napa Valley tasting rooms open everyday and the thought of all of them can feel overwhelming. We aim to help you create a Napa wine tour that encourages you to discover your next favorite wine. With so many well known brands and vineyards in a world famous valley, we enjoy Napa wineries of all scales, but these are three wineries that are producing exceptional wines in exceptionally small amounts. They are privately owned and operated by intimate teams of passionate professionals who make serious wine for serious collectors.
Azur Wines
2238 First Avenue
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 812 4203
http://www.azurwines.com/
At Azur Wines, winemaker Julien Fayard is continuing on a path of wonderful winemaking. He has worked at Lafite Rothschild in Bordeaux and with Philippe Melka here in Napa Valley, and now has the experience to make world class wines. They host their wine tastings at the Vintner’s Collective in Napa, which is a great stop on any wine tour as they house many wineries and provide the chance to discover other new wines.
The philosophy at Azur is to create the highest quality wines which express the quality of their vineyards of origin. The emphasis is on vineyard selection and farming, the result is the 2012 Azur Wines Proprietary Red Wine. It is roughly equal thirds of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah. The Syrah lifts some of the more floral aromatics out of the wine while the Cabernet Franc supports the bouquet with a leathery spice rack. The Cabernet Sauvignon provides a firm but sumptuous body and a dark berry palate with a long finish. This wine is always hard to find as they only produce about 250 cases per year.
Paradigm Winery
277 Dwyer Road, Oakville, CA 94562
(707) 944 1683
http://paradigmwinery.com/
Paradigm Winery is well known to the local wine enthusiasts in Napa Valley and sommeliers afar. The wine maker is a super star with an incredible record of outstanding wines. And fortunately for us, this gem is still a bit under most people’s radar due mostly to its limited production. Heidi Peterson Barrett has been the winemaker at Paradigm since the first vintage in 1991. She is a Napa Valley native and a UC Davis grad and stands behind some of the most highly regarded wineries around.
The philosophy here is simple, let the fruit from this impeccably farmed and extraordinary vineyard site express its unique terroir with minimal intervention. The flagship Cabernet Sauvignon is dense, deep, ripe and perfectly structured. Black cherry and caramel precede the rich and classic Cabernet Sauvignon mouth feel. Another favorite on our wine tours is the Cabernet Franc, and is worth seeking out where ever you can find it.
Viader
1120 Deer Park Road, Deer Park, CA 94576
(707) 963 3816
http://www.viader.com/
Delia Viader is a trailblazer leader in the Napa Valley. She recognized the potential here in 1986, and with a small loan from her father acquired the Howell Mountain property and began to produce top level wines. Always “daring to be different” Delia decided her property could best be utilized by creating a Bordeaux style blend. While raising four children on her own, she pioneered unique vineyard cultivation by planting vineyards up and down the mountain that follow the path of the sun down the steep slopes of Howell Mountain.
The 2012 Viader Proprietary Red Blend is distinctive in this great vintage, and is often referred to as liquid cashmere. Cabernet Sauvignon gives the wine a backbone and character, while the Cabernet Franc installs the high toned aromatics and silky texture. The ideal balance between these two grapes makes it ideal for drinking sooner as well as later. It is highly sought after by collectors and is often hard to acquire.
Here Delia talk about hillside Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc below:
We can help you get to these tucked away locations on a customized wine tour designed just for you.
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