Author Archives: Cathy Gartley

Black Stallion

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Black Stallion Estate

Black Stallion Estate

4089 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558

Website: http://www.blackstallionwinery.com/

Black Stallion is one of the younger wineries in Napa Valley. It opened in July 2007.  It is located off of the Silverado Trail in the Oak Knoll district. The Black Stallion name relates to its location on the grounds of a historic equestrian center.  A shiny black stallion statue marks the entrance to the winery. The winery itself is constructed of stone with large wooden doors at the entryways and is surrounded by estate vineyards.

Black Stallion Tasting Room

Black Stallion Tasting Room

Inside, the tasting room is a wide-open space with dark wood floors and beams.  Upon entering there is a hostess stand and a large rectangular tasting bar. In front of the tasting bar are a few tables with chairs around a fireplace.  There are a couple of rooms off of the main tasting area with long tables set up for private experiences. One of those rooms had glass doors that allowed a view in the barrel room.  Opposite from the tasting bar are tall glass doors that lead out to the swanky terrace. The terrace is framed by dome-shaped stone pillars and has black, comfy sofa-like lounge chairs.  All of it is surrounded by nice views of the vineyards.

Black Stallion Terrace

Black Stallion Terrace

The winery classifies their wines into three tiers – Heritage, Limited Release, and Prestige.  The Heritage tier is the more widely circulated wines. There are a number of tasting options and experiences available.  The most basic walk-in tastings offer a choice to sample just reds, just whites, or a mixture. Other options include the upgraded Prestige tasting of Black Stallion’s ultra-premium wines or a tasting on the terrace.  Additional private tastings and tours are offered by appointment. Check their website for details. Black Stallion specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon, but they also produce several other varietals including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel.

I visited this winery on two different occasions.  The first visit was soon after the winery opened, and my husband and I stopped in toward the end of the day.  There was a large crowd of people in the tasting room making it difficult to find a place at the tasting bar. Unfortunately my first impression of the wines was impaired by my frustration with the people who were continually bumping or crowding me.  It took me nearly ten years later to return and give it another try, but I always felt that I didn’t give the wines a fair shot. This time my husband and I planned a visit in the morning soon after they opened so we could avoid the crowds. It paid off.  We were the only guests in the tasting room when we first arrived and we got to take our time sampling the wines. We each did a tasting to share so that we could try a larger variety of their offerings. Overall I found their style of wines to be big and bold that should be aged and paired with food.  The prices on most of the reds are quite hefty as well.

I am glad that I gave Black Stallion a second shot.  I appreciated the winery much more when it wasn’t crowded.  If you are planning a visit I would definitely suggest picking a less busy time, like the mornings during a weekday.  If you are into bold reds, then this place is for you. Just be ready to splurge if you want to take some bottles home.

 

Bacigalupi Vineyards

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Bacigalupi Vineyards

Bacigalupi Vineyards

4353 Westside Rd, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Website: http://bacigalupivineyards.com/

A very momentous event in California wine history was the 1976 Judgment of Paris.  Historians refer to this event as the one that put the California wine industry on the world map after a Californian Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay took first place in a blind tasting against the most famous wine houses in France.  Books and movies were made about this incredible tasting. The chardonnay that won first prize came from the Calistoga winery Chateau Montelena in Napa Valley and was produced by famed winemaker Mike Grgich who soon after left to start his own winery.  The piece of this story that is often left out is that the large majority of the grapes used to make the wine actually came from Sonoma instead of Napa. Forty percent of those grapes came from Bacigalupi vineyards. For over 60 years the Bacigalupi family has sat quietly in the background sourcing grapes to some of Napa and Sonoma’s most acclaimed wineries.  Three generations have carried on operations since Charles and Helen Bacigalupi purchased the property on Westside Road in the Russian River Valley in 1956. After so many years of producing grapes for other wineries, the family opened its own tasting room in June 2011.

Bacigalupi Tasting Room

Bacigalupi Tasting Room

This history is exactly what drove me to visit the winery.  After reading about the story of the Bacigalupis I really felt the need to go to the source to sample the wine that propelled California forward.  What truly surprised me about my visit is the humbleness of the winery. There was no fanfare about the 1976 Paris Tasting, although they still produce a chardonnay whose grapes were grafted from the same vines.  The overall atmosphere was very casual. The tasting room from the outside looks like it could be someone’s house. It was surrounded by trees with the vineyard behind it. The tasting room inside was rather modest with a wood paneled tasting bar, tiled floors, and a small fireplace.  Glass doors led to an outdoor patio where my husband and I had our tasting. It was a nice, mildly warm day. The family’s French bulldog “Ace” came by to visit us. We ordered a Baci plate of small bites to sample with the wines. Our hostess was one of the 3rd generation family members.  We were the only ones seated outside for most of our tasting and were able to move at our own pace. Another couple arrived as we were finishing up. It was very peaceful sipping wine on a sunny day right next to the vineyards.

Our tasting flight included five wines – a Rosé, a Chardonnay, two Pinot Noirs, and a Zinfandel. The Chardonnay came from the same clone as the 1976 Paris tasting grapes. My favorite of the flight was the full-bodied 2015 Goddard Ranch Pinot Noir that was loaded with black cherries and plums plus some earthiness.  It paired really well with cranberries and dark chocolate. Even now that the Bacigalupis are producing their own label, they still sell 90% of their grapes to other wineries. I truly value vintners like this family whose years of hard work have shifted the California wine industry.  If you see the name Bacigalupi on a wine label you can trust that it will be a premium wine. I’m thankful for getting to visit this winery and for the cordial experience they provided.

 

Cosentino Winery

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Cosentino Winery

Cosentino Winery

7415 St. Helena Highway, Yountville, CA 94599

Website: http://www.cosentinowinery.com/

I have been visiting Napa and Sonoma for 10 years and have visited a lot of wineries.  I am always trying to find a new, surprising experience. When I walk into each new winery I try to distinguish what is different about this one?  This time on my latest trip to Napa the winery that really excited me was Cosentino. I didn’t know anything about the winery in advance. My husband and I had driven by it lots of times on our trips through Napa.  The small chateau-like structure covered in ivy is located in Oakville right next door to Mustards Grill. This time we decided to stop in before our dinner reservation at Mustards. The winery is rather unassuming in comparison to some of the other giants in Oakville like Robert Mondavi, Far Niente, Nickel & Nickel, and Opus One.

Cosentino was founded by Mitch Cosentino who started Cosentino Wine Co. in 1980 outside of the Lodi region.  He started the Napa winery in 1990. Since that time the winery has changed hands to Vintage Wine Estates, who also owns Swanson, Girard, and Clos Pegase in Napa.  Cosentino offers drop-in tastings. A benefit is that it is open a little later than many other wineries. They offer private tastings by reservation and also host private events.

Cosentino's outdoor patio

Cosentino’s outdoor patio

Besides the pretty ivy covered facade, this winery has a very inviting outdoor patio.  As we walked up to the tasting room our host Joey greeted us and welcomed us to the winery.  The first thing that caught my eye was the big stone fireplace and comfy couches. At the opposite end of the patio was a fountain. In between there were wooden benches plus multiple tables and chairs.  There were also several large umbrellas to shield the sun on a hot day. Although it looked very relaxing, it was a pretty chilly day in the middle of February, so we opted to go inside. I can see the patio being a big draw in warmer weather.  The tasting room reminded me of a little boutique with a couple of cafe style tables and chairs. The tasting bar is long enough to accomodate 4-5 small groups at once. There was another room off the main tasting room with more cafe style tables and a small tasting bar.

Cosentino Tasting Room

Cosentino Tasting Room

The hospitality our host Joey provided was super.  He educated us on the winery, the wines, and made us feel like valued guests.  I was pleasantly surprised by the prices of their wines, especially their flagship wine “The Poet”.  I was expecting a much higher price tag for the premium quality. Nowadays it seems like prices in Napa are trending upwards of $100 for a high quality Cabernet Sauvignon or Bordeaux style blend.  In addition I learned an interesting fact about “The Poet” – it was the first designated Meritage wine when it was released in 1989. Meritage is a term used today for a red blend typically made from at least 2 of the Bordeaux varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, or Malbec.  Lots of wineries now offer their own Meritage blend. My husband and I were so impressed by the overall experience that we joined the wine club. A couple weeks after returning home we received a handwritten thank you card in the mail. I’m really looking forward to being a club member and visiting again.