Last Wednesday evening, Don and I joined Sommelier Aaron Benson and some of Napa's finest vintners to experience wines straight from the barrel and current releases, in anticipation of the 2014 Premiere Napa Valley Auction. Wine lovers and winemakers met at the Dallas Country Club to partake and celebrate some of what the famous Napa Valley has to offer.
This auction, which will last four days, will take place in Napa, June 2014. But more than the four days of the auction, this event will touch lives for years to come because all the proceeds go to support community health and children's education. To date, they have raised more than $120 million in dozens of these organizations.
Back to our dinner and wine tastings now. Aaron and his staff had beautifully decorated the Ladies Lakeside Lounge where we were married and had our reception. The vintners dined with the guests at each table so they could share the stories of their wines and history of winemaking. We were fortunate to be seated with May-Britt Malbec from Notre Vin. She and her husband Denis, created Notre Vin, which means "our wines", in honor of their favorite California terriors. They had carefully selected vineyards on Howell Mountain and along the Sonoma Coast. All their wines are created in very limited quantities.
Here are the wines I remember from Notre Vin!
This is the 2008 Howell Mountain Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Rose'. This was a very delightful rose' made in the French dry style and aged in stainless steel tanks. Click on the name for winemaker notes.
The second bottle behind the Cuvee L'Etrier is a Howell Mountain Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, but I don't know the vintage. However, if you look at their website, they offer vintages all the way back to 2003.
There was so many vintners and wines at this event, that I neglected to write it all down or take pictures of each bottle. But whatever it was, it was delicious! I didn't taste anything from Notre Vin that I wouldn't buy or suggest you drink!
I believe we tasted their Pinot Noir and their Opportunite', which is a 2006 Vintage Port, and both were lovely.
Another vintner that was there was Howell at the Moon. We tasted their 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon ($85) that was excellent.
Ideology Cellars was another vintner at this event. We ended up buying a 2010 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($125) which is a "voluptuous wine in classic style, barrel aged for 26 months, and still showing its California heritage." Only 100 cases produced of this vintage.
Others that were there at the event included Metaphora, Newton, Hall, and Coquerel Family Wine Estate. We tasted all these wines and they were excellent wines, which makes it a hard decision for those in attendance who were there to help decide which wines we would like to see on the DCC wine list.
The Coquerel Family Wines were my favorite. Their 2011 Le Petit Coquerel Sauvignon Blanc was wonderful. This winery began as a dream to produce a superb Sauvignon Blanc modeled after the Bordeaux blanc of France. In 2005, they purchased a vineyard in Calistoga, which produced their first vintage in 2008. They have since begun producing Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon made in an old world style with luscious California fruit!
What an excellent wine for just $20. Crisp, creamy, and a long finish!
The pic below is wine just out of the barrel and totally wonderful.
Meeting Brenda Coquerel was an honor. Such a sweet lady to visit with and share stories about teaching school and drinking wines.
Aaron, excellent job on the choice of vintners for the evening! We totally enjoyed the food, wine, and fellowship with the vintners and other wine lovers!
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