Seven for Seven – A Brief Tour of Napa Valley

BY ANTONIO GALLONI | JULY 03, 2023

I was delighted to curate this small, intimate tasting for one of our private corporate clients. The objective was to taste representative wines from reference-point producers in top vintages across several appellations. I picked the first six wines, while our host added the seventh. As much as I enjoy tasting new releases in Napa Valley, sitting down and focusing on a smaller group of wines years after release is every bit as instructive. I would like to thank the team at the Press Club in San Francisco for handling all aspects of wine service with extreme care. It was a tremendous evening all around.

The 2012 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon is fabulous. Racy and ample in feel, the 2012 is also shockingly rich today, more so than I remember from the past. All the elements come together in a seamless, wonderfully deep wine that captures all the best the vintage has to offer. I have never been the biggest fan of the 2012 vintage in Napa Valley, as I thought much of the initial enthusiasm was built on over-compensation for 2011, but Spottswoode very clearly sits at the top. What a great start to the evening. 97/Drink 2023-2037.

Blankiet’s 2018 Proprietary Red Paradise Hills Vineyard soars out of the glass with breathtaking aromatics. Bright and focused, the 2018 is also an infant that is going to need time. I have seen wines from this site age exquisitely well. I imagine that will be the case here as well. Dried herbs, lavender, spice and menthol weave through a core of dark-fleshed fruit, all leading to a gorgeous, resonant finish. So impressive. 98/Drink 2028-2043.