I started keeping notes on the wines I was drinking after one too many evenings of opening something wonderful and realizing the next morning that I had no idea what it was. What follows is an honest account of the ten Napa Valley wines I’ve spent time with recently: what I noticed, what surprised me, when I’d open each again, and what I’d pair them with.
Table of Contents
2023 Honig Sauvignon Blanc: The Reliable Constant
This has become my house white. Clean, bright, and satisfying in a way that asks nothing of you except a cold glass. Citrus and grapefruit are the primary notes, with a grassy freshness that makes it feel alive. When I’d open it again: any weeknight. What I’d pair it with: grilled fish, bright pasta, a good cheese board.
Photo Credit: InternetWines
2022 Simon Family Estate Golden Ore Sauvignon Blanc: The Discovery
I did not expect this to be what it was. Silky, vibrant, textured, and electric in a way that keeps drawing you back. The Rutherford terroir is evident in a minerality that grounds the fruit. When I’d open it again: for guests who appreciate wine. What I’d pair it with: seared scallops, risotto, or an interesting cheese board.
Photo Credit: Simon Family Estate
Paula Kornell Brut Rose NV: The Instant Occasion
I have opened this for three separate gatherings now and received the same response every time: people immediately ask about it. Cranberry, red currant, and pomegranate are effortlessly balanced with a creamy fine-bead texture. When I’d open it again: at the start of any gathering I want to feel special. What I’d pair it with: smoked salmon, soft cheeses, or absolutely nothing.
Photo Credit: Paula Kornell
2023 Frog’s Leap Jeremiah Cabernet Sauvignon: The Elegant Argument for Organic Winemaking
There is a purity and a directness to the fruit that you notice, even if you can’t articulate why. Elegant rather than bold, refined rather than aggressive. My husband finished his glass without being asked. When I’d open it again: for a casual dinner where I want something excellent without demanding attention. What I’d pair it with: roast chicken, simple pasta with vegetables.
Photo Credit: Bottle Values
2023 Teeter-Totter Cabernet Sauvignon: The Joyful Overachiever
A full, generous, genuinely excellent Napa cab. Blackberry, cassis, dark plum, mocha, spice, and a long cocoa-dusted finish. I opened it for a Tuesday dinner and immediately reconsidered my habit of saving good wine. When I’d open it again: whenever I want to make an ordinary evening feel like an occasion. What I’d pair it with: grilled steak, lamb chops.
Photo Credit: Garys Wine
2021 Gemstone Facets Cabernet Sauvignon: The One That Made Me Slow Down
The boysenberry and black currant are there, and then this lovely floral quality and a mineral depth underneath makes the whole thing feel more complex than it first appears. I found myself going back for another sip more often than usual. When I’d open it again: for an evening when I actually want to pay attention. What I’d pair it with: duck breast, lamb.
Photo Credit: Wine Country Connection
2022 Barnett Merlot Spring Mountain: The Merlot Renaissance
I want everyone who has written off merlot to try this wine. Silky, concentrated, and rich with berry fruit, spice, and a mineral character that runs beneath the whole thing. The tannins are smooth rather than grippy. When I’d open it again: for dinner parties where I want something impressive but not trying too hard. What I’d pair it with: braised short ribs, roasted lamb.
Photo Credit: Wine Express
2021 Eleven Eleven XI Cabernet Sauvignon: The One That Commands the Room
This wine has presence. The dark plum, blackcurrant, and wild berries are immediate and generous, and the polished oak structure gives it an elegance that lifts the whole experience. When I’d open it again: for any occasion that deserves a wine with real authority. What I’d pair it with: ribeye, prime rib.
Photo Credit: Wine Enthusiast
2022 Gallica Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Ranch: The Single-Vineyard Experience
There is a specificity to this wine that you notice immediately. Red cherry, herb, pepper, and floral notes from grapes grown at elevation, with a refinement that distinguishes it clearly from a generically excellent Napa cab. When I’d open it again: for the most meaningful evening of the month. What I’d pair it with: herb-roasted rack of lamb.
Photo Credit: Gallica Wine
2015 Go Figure Lot 95 Cabernet Sauvignon: The One Worth Seeking
Black cherry, creme de cassis, leather, violet, and espresso, all integrated and resolved in a way that takes years to achieve. The tannins are silky and present. The finish is long and meditative. I poured one glass and sat with it for twenty minutes before going back for the second. When I’d open it again: when the evening calls for something worth truly savoring.
Photo Credit: Garys Wine