8 days in Napa starting Sept 2 - Wine Country travel ratings and reviews

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8 days in Napa starting Sept 2

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Author	Topic: 8 days in Napa starting Sept 2
yesilovewine Member	posted 08-31-2011 05:31 AM Just so you know, your plan literally covers the county from top to bottom...that is a LOT of territory for just one day, and you are staying in Napa, on top of that! Expect the drive between Coppola and Sojourn alone to take about 2 hours. IP: 71.65.198.80
Hawkeye Member	posted 08-31-2011 04:19 AM Hi Voelfgar, Sometimes the "where we stop" wineries can be some of the best experiences. I can remember the first time we just stopped at Baldacci on the Silverado Trail . . . WOW, what cabs and what a surprise find. Have been going back ever since. Find us some good ones. -Hawkeye IP: 68.169.184.155
Voelfgar Junior Member	posted 08-30-2011 05:24 PM Hi yesilovewine, thanks for your input. I pretty much have Sonoma figured out. Will hit Soujorn, FFC and maybe Alexander Valley. The rest will be whereever we stop. IP: 68.76.144.84
yesilovewine Member	posted 08-30-2011 02:38 PM Voelfgar, At least for me, the tasting notes are a personal reference point for later...you don't need to follow a particular format to make them pertinent, just be sure that you use a system that you can follow. If you want to consider something more formal, I have seen suggested tasting notes forms on websites that instruct on how to host a wine tasting....but they seem complicated to me. If you need/want more input for your day in Sonoma, posting on that board may get more specific replies. Have a great trip. IP: 71.65.198.80
Hawkeye Member	posted 08-30-2011 08:05 AM Hi Voelfgar, Yes, some of our group can get pretty detailed. Personally, If I like it, okay, if I don't, okay. I admire those that can discern smoke from earth, etc., I personally cannot nor am I sure I would want to. I just want to enjoy the wine. -Hawkeye IP: 68.169.184.155
Voelfgar Junior Member	posted 08-30-2011 05:50 AM Hi Hawkeye, Will put burgess and madigral on alist to try to get to. Way too many to get to even in 8 days. And thanks on the clarification of what is meant by the tasting notes. Was reading one guys and his was very detailed. IP: 166.137.143.115
Hawkeye Member	posted 08-30-2011 04:37 AM Hi Voelfgar, I forgot to add, don't worry a lot about the way you write about your tastings. Most of us don't have that discerning of a palate. If you like it, say so, if you don', say so. If you can tell why, that is fine, if not, that is fine also. Just have a good time. -Hawkeye IP: 68.169.184.155
Hawkeye Member	posted 08-29-2011 03:05 PM Hi Voelfgar, Looks like a very good itinerary. If you are going to taste at Ladera, you go right past Burgess, why not give them a try. -Hawkeye IP: 68.169.184.155
damombo Member	posted 08-28-2011 08:30 PM I am not aware of a template, per se, but here is what Madrigal's tasting notes about one of their zins looks like: Fruit-driven comfort wine! A polished Zinfandel showing lively fruit and remarkable balance, in the irresistible style we enjoy at home. Its textured layers and bright acidity ride on a frame of graceful tannins. Effusive aromas of black raspberries and cherries swell to soft waves of cloves, vanilla and sweet toasty oak. A mouth-filling core of buoyant red berries expands to ripe sweet fruit and lively black pepper notes. Like a warm cloak, the plush finish delivers a mantle of allspice and caramel wrapped in creamy mocha and cinnamon. My personal notes are never that eloquent, but we do try to note (for our own future reference) what we get on the nose, or if there is a lingering finish or nice mouth feel. I often note the jamminess of a wine, because that is one of my favorites! Most places will give you a sheet with their notes for the wines you are tasting and you can jot down your impressions. It takes a little practice to remember to do that, especially towards the end of the day but it is well worth the effort - you will enjoy reading those notes a year later when you open the last bottle you brought home... OK, writing this on my IPad and I can't scroll up and reread what I wrote, so I can't check my spelling, etc! Just gonna have to post and hope it makes sense! [This message has been edited by damombo (edited 08-29-2011).] IP: 166.147.64.240
Voelfgar Junior Member	posted 08-28-2011 08:00 PM damombo, Is there someplace that would have a template of tasting notes should look like? IP: 68.76.144.84
damombo Member	posted 08-28-2011 07:14 PM Hi Voelfgar, Looks good! On Friday, after seeing the Castello di Amorosa, you might think about stopping at Madrigal. They're close by and on the way to Beringer. They are a small, family owned winery and have a fairly new tasting room. We think that their wines are terrific. We've just decided that we will be going back in mid-November! I'm a very happy lady Do please come back and tell us all about your impressions of the places you taste! Cheers! IP: 76.31.52.34
Voelfgar Junior Member	posted 08-28-2011 04:35 PM Was chatting with damombo on another thread but figured I'd just start a new one so as damombo said so you all can live vicariously through me. Wife and I are staying at Vino Bello in Napa. So we get in before checkin on Friday so we figure we will head downtown and grab lunch at the Oxbow Market and visit a few of the tasting rooms down there. Saturday: Vincent Arroyo, Sterling, Trinchero, Duckhorn, Merryvale. Sunday: Beringer, Markham, Raymond, Franciscan Monday: Grgich, BV, Sequoia Grove, Rubicon/Inglenook. Ending the day with a tasting at Hall Rutherford. Tuesday: Silverado, Black Stallion, Stag Leap's Wine Cellars, Baldacci Wednesday: 2pm tasting at Ladera. Rest of the day is open to get any that we couldn't get to earlier. Thursday: Trip to Sonoma. Wednesday and Thursday may switch depending on the Ladera tasting. Friday: Castello di Amoraso, Beringer That's all that I got so far. Any comments, any place that I missed we should really try to hit? IP: 68.76.144.84

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