When you visit any wine region there are certain stops that become classics for one reason or another. In Napa Valley, V. Sattui Winery is one of those places that people return to again and again. In addition to some tasty wines they welcome large groups and have a diverse deli section available to pick up cheeses and other snack foods. They offer picnicking on their grounds and a wide variety of wine tasting options. In short V. Sattui is an incredibly warm and welcoming place to visit. V. Sattui’s history goes back 125 years. It has been in place at its current St. Helena location since 1975. To this day it’s a family owned and run winery. Today I’ll look at one of their single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons.
The V. Sattui Winery 2007 Vittorio’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon was produced using Napa Valley fruit exclusively sourced at the namesake vineyard. In addition to Caberet a small dollop of Merlot (less than 3%) is part of this wine. Fermentation occurred in stainless steel. The wine was all barrel aged in French oak; half of the barrels were new and the other half were previously used. 931 cases of this selection were produced and the price for this wine is $35.
Leather, dark berry and plum aromas fill the nose of this 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon. Fleshy dark fruit and sweet red berry notes intermingle through the palate which is intense, layered. Full flavored and very well proportioned. Earth, pencil lead, baker’s chocolate, chicory and mineral characteristics all emerge on the finish which is rather lengthy. Solid acidity and finely ground but yielding tannins are part of the solid backbone of this offering.
This Cabernet is a little tight out of the bottle, but about 45 minutes of air in the decanter really allows this wine to blossom and express its many charms. This selection is really quite tasty now but it’ll improve in the bottle over the next few years and drink well for the next 6-8 at minimum. A classic example of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and a solid value to boot
I recently had the opportunity to attend a tasting of Greek Wines in several different settings. Essentially it was an all day event that taught many of the attendees a lot about the wines emanating from Greece. In addition to being able to experience a broad selection of wines, I experienced a number of indigenous varietals for the first time and was generally impressed by the overall quality level. One thing stood out for me above everything else though. The wines from Santorini, which is an Island in Greece, were the ones that really struck the biggest chord with me. Today I’ll look at a Santorini wine from Boutari.
Today I’ll look at a couple of wines from Italian producer 
In addition to Rosé, warm weather has me longing for white wines more and more often. One of the white varietals I reach for a lot in the summer in Torrontés. In case you’re unfamiliar it’s the signature white grape of Argentina. Over the last handful of years it’s starting to make serious inroads on US shelves, both in stores and in consumer’s homes. Its appealing nature, when well made, assures it won’t spend to long on your wine rack once you do get it home. I tasted quite a few examples of this grape over the last week; here are two that I found particularly appealing.
The second selection that stood out was the 
Hot and sometimes scorching weather as well as high humidity on the east coast the last few weeks has had me reaching for Rosé’s to sample more often than usual. 
If you spend any time at all tasting wine in Napa Valley some things become pretty apparent quickly. One of those things is the prevalence of Cabernet Sauvignon. You’d be hard pressed to spend a day in Napa and not taste a solid handful of different cabs; if not a ton of them. The dominance of Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa is such that when I run across the occasional producer who doesn’t make one it almost makes my head turn askew. Not that I’m complaining; I love excellent Cabernet Sauvignon and Napa Valley is home to some of the best examples in the world. Today I’ll take a look at two from 
With the summer in full gear and 4th of July upon us, we’re right in the middle of Rosé season. These days there are excellent versions coming from most of the world’s major wine producing regions. That aside for a moment, there is something to be said for how seriously Rosé is treated in France. Their love affair with Rosé goes back generations. Thankfully we’re starting to catch up in the US. Today I’ll look at current release from Paul Jaboulet.
