[RichF90M5C]

I’m really into my Napa wines. Being in the UK, we mostly get charged crazy prices, but I’ve managed to find some decent pricing on Bread & Butter wines, which at the price point are rather good.

[M5Rick]

Can't beat Apothic Red from sunny California every time with your meal and buying a 6 bottle box from Costco won't break the bank at around £45 inc taxes.

[hubbahubba]

Opened the Amici last night. It was ok, but I really enjoyed the quote on the cork.

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by hubbahubba

https://torwines.com/

I had not heard about it until about 3 years ago, maybe? We attended a wine dinner where it was featured. The ratings you see are spot on. Any of their reds are fantastic, I am partial to the Petite Syrah. The Chasing Windmills was an add on, suggested by Sierra at the winery when I ordered the Syrah. I'm very glad she did, it's a great red blend! As for white, I normally don't like Chards, but even their Chard made me go "wow". I think it was Carneros. Had to look back at my Visa charges, for the 6 bottles pictured shipped with tax and all was $644. Worth every penny for a special occassion wine IMO. We are visiting Napa in a few weeks, and have Tor on the list to attend. I am very excited!

So about $100 a bottle. That’s pretty good. I feel like most good Napa wines are around there. I’m in NorCal and haven’t done a Napa trip in a while. Sounds like I should visit Tor next time I head up there

[hubbahubba]

Originally Posted by BMW F22

So about $100 a bottle. That’s pretty good. I feel like most good Napa wines are around there. I’m in NorCal and haven’t done a Napa trip in a while. Sounds like I should visit Tor next time I head up there

We will be there Jan 16 or 17. If you beat me there, please let me know what you think. They have 2 tasting options, still undecided as to which we will do.

[MKSixer]

I read through this thread from the time of my first surgery a little over a year ago and it has the feel of the best homework assignment ever given.

So much new wine to explore and favs to become reacquainted with. Wonderful suggestions, guys and gals!!

Many thanks!!
Cheers-MK

[RickFLM4]

Some recent additions. We had a bottle of the 2014 Nine Suns for Thanksgiving and it was excellent.

[RickFLM4]

Just decanted for Christmas Eve dinner.

[Roman]

Recently enjoyed this very much.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Just decanted for Christmas Eve dinner.

Stop, you're killing me here!

The Spring Mountain District reds we've enjoyed have generally been excellent food wines. I frequently choose a Spring Mountain Zinfandel to go with the NY strips I get from a local butcher. Spring Mountain reds tend to be very well-balanced, matching what I favor in a red wine.

On a different note, we stayed up on Spring Mountain back in the mid-90s. We had been married in the valley at the end of the 70s, and had stayed in numerous B&Bs, motels, and hotels between the late 70s and the 90s. We enjoyed staying up on Spring Mountain because we were away from the hustle and bustle of the valley, yet the valley floor was only minutes away. It didn't hurt that the view to the valley floor and to the east was spectacular.

[Nuckle]

Merry Christmas

[evil-G-nius]

Overall, IMO, most wineries in Napa are over rated. Pretty much if you have tasted one Napa Cab, you have tasted them all. Now of course, as with anything, there are exceptions to the rule! But SINCE they have the recognition they think its fine to overcharge for so so wines. In all honesty, you can find just as good, if not better wines in Sonoma County for a fraction of the price. Although, recently that word has been getting out and their prices are going up a little as well. You want a Napa sourced cab but don't want to pay 200 bucks a bottle, go to Sonoma County. A friend of mine has a Mt. Veeder Cab for about $76 bucks. Again, to each their own, but there are excellent options out there.

[Jimmy K]

Me and the Mrs usually like to keep about 2 cases of Silver Oak and 2 cases of Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc (Russian River Valley) on hand. Both are very consistent.

I wasn’t a big fan of white wines until I tried Merry Edwards. I haven’t seen it mentioned, but it’s worth a try.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by Jimmy K

Me and the Mrs usually like to keep about 2 cases of Silver Oak and 2 cases of Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc (Russian River Valley) on hand. Both are very consistent.

I wasn’t a big fan of white wines until I tried Merry Edwards. I haven’t seen it mentioned, but it’s worth a try.

Also opened a bottle of 2017 Silver Oak Napa cab last night.

[translux]

Discovered 6 bottles of 1999 Dom Perignon in the cellar. Bought a bunch when my son was born in 1999. For some reason I put them in a cheap Mondavi wine box and always assumed that’s what was in there. Trying out a bottle tonight to see if it’s still drinkable. Fingers crossed.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by Roman

Recently enjoyed this very much.

You have good taste!

My wife and I have been wine club members at Rombauer for several years. We live 1 hour away so we pick up our orders in person and enjoy the drive and go to lunch or have a picnic at the winery. Life is good.

[translux]

Well despite being at the edge of drinkability it tastes great to me. The color was certainly darker and there was reduced carbonation but the cork popped with reasonable force.
The brochure inside the box was cool. Definitely promoting the 90 lifestyle, which I miss

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by evil-G-nius

Overall, IMO, most wineries in Napa are over rated. Pretty much if you have tasted one Napa Cab, you have tasted them all. Now of course, as with anything, there are exceptions to the rule! But SINCE they have the recognition they think its fine to overcharge for so so wines. In all honesty, you can find just as good, if not better wines in Sonoma County for a fraction of the price. Although, recently that word has been getting out and their prices are going up a little as well. You want a Napa sourced cab but don't want to pay 200 bucks a bottle, go to Sonoma County. A friend of mine has a Mt. Veeder Cab for about $76 bucks. Again, to each their own, but there are excellent options out there.

I'm pretty sure you are correct that overall, Sonoma wines tend to be less expensive than Napa wines. But there are many exceptions in both direction. There are amazing Napa wines that are more affordable and some very average Sonoma wines that are expensive.

Living close to the area, we go to both Napa and Sonoma to wine taste and buy wine. Personally, I don't favor one over the other. I think it's a matter of finding wines you like at a price you think is worth it, regardless of which valley it comes from.

If I had to pick a single go-to winery in the area for right-priced amazing wines across the board it would probably be Rombauer in Napa. Check out their pricing and try a bottle or two if you get a chance.

By the way, Mt Veeder Winery is in Napa Valley.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by translux

Well despite being at the edge of drinkability it tastes great to me. The color was certainly darker and there was reduced carbonation but the cork popped with reasonable force.
The brochure inside the box was cool. Definitely promoting the 90 lifestyle, which I miss

We will all be right over to help you drink the rest before it goes bad.

[translux]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

We will all be right over to help you drink the rest before it goes bad.

You better hurry it’s going quick!
Next we’re going to taste the 2012 Salon.

[evil-G-nius]

Originally Posted by Jimmy K

Me and the Mrs usually like to keep about 2 cases of Silver Oak and 2 cases of Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc (Russian River Valley) on hand. Both are very consistent.

I wasn’t a big fan of white wines until I tried Merry Edwards. I haven’t seen it mentioned, but it’s worth a try.

My buddy was a wine maker at Merry Edwards for a bit...not sur eif he is still there though. They had a really good Sauv Blanc that I liked, very good wines indeed

Originally Posted by sygazelle

I'm pretty sure you are correct that overall, Sonoma wines tend to be less expensive than Napa wines. But there are many exceptions in both direction. There are amazing Napa wines that are more affordable and some very average Sonoma wines that are expensive.

Living close to the area, we go to both Napa and Sonoma to wine taste and buy wine. Personally, I don't favor one over the other. I think it's a matter of finding wines you like at a price you think is worth it, regardless of which valley it comes from.

If I had to pick a single go-to winery in the area for right-priced amazing wines across the board it would probably be Rombauer in Napa. Check out their pricing and try a bottle or two if you get a chance.

By the way, Mt Veeder Winery is in Napa Valley.

I lived in Santa Rosa and know the areas very well..I used to run a custom crush facility in Sonoma, and I drove wine tours for a few years. By no means am I saying that Napa doesn't have good wines or reasonable wineries at all. I'm saying more often than not, Napa wineries tend to lean on the Napa name as a justification for silly prices. As far as Napa's mainstay is concerned, IMO, if you have had a Napa Cab from anywhere they all taste the same. Not much variance in flavor profiles as far as I'm concerned anyway.

My favorite Napa wineries that are reasonable are Lava Vine, Frank Family, Bouchaine, Pride Mountain just to name a few. I too like some of Rombauer's wine as well. I also like Domaine Carneros for bubbles...a little pricey but so very worth it IMO

[hubbahubba]

This gave me a chuckle.

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