Week 4b: California Flashcards
Name 6 very large regional AVA’s in California:
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Far North
North Coast (Napa/Sonoma)
Inland Valleys (Lodi)
Sierra Foothills
Central Coast (Santa Barbara / Paso Robles)
Southern California
Three most important large regional AVA’s in California?
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- North Coast (Napa / Sonoma)
- Inland Valleys (Lodi)
- Central Coast (Santa Barbara and Paso Robles)
Can AVA’s be nested within AVA’s?
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Yes
AVA’s can be nested within larger AVA’s, right down to the Monopole size
Two mountain ranges that border Napa Valley
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Mayacama Mountains (west)
Vaca Mountains (east)
Napa AVA’s on a geographical map:
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What AVA is in both Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley
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Los Carneros
Three AVA’s above the fog line in Napa:
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Mount Veeder (west)
Howell Mountain (east)
Atlas Peak (middle east)
Napa Valley “floor” AVA’s from north to south:
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Calistoga
Diamond Mountain District
Saint Helena
Rutherford
Oakville
Stag’s Leap District
Yountville
Oak Knoll District
Coombsville
Los Carneros
Three Napa Valley Floor AVA’s that make full bodied Cabernet:
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Rutherford
Oakville
Stag’s Leap
Size of Napa Valley:
30 x 5 miles
Notable weather feature of Napa Valley:
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Fog in the morning from San Pablo Bay
Coldest Napa AVA:
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Los Carneros
Warmerst Napa AVA:
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Calistoga
Role of Napa Valley fog:
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Enables diurnal shift
How are AVA’s above the inversion line moderated?
Class lecture
Elevation provides moderating influence
Stronger sun = thicker skin = high phenolics
Describe a wine from the Napa Valley floor:
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More fruit forward
Describe a Napa wine from above the inversion line:
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More structure, then fruit
Two Napa producers:
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Quintessa
O’Shaugnessy
Napa Valley conundrum in early 2000’s:
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Left on vine longer to meet Robert Parker style
Inhibited ageing ablity
Caymus Special Select
The Caymus ‘Special Selection’ Cabernet Sauvignon is an exceptional wine made from this storied Napa Valley estate. Following some time to open, this incredible Cabernet begins to yield profound aromatics of black cherry compote, blueberry pie and boysenberry along with creosote, black tar, milk chocolate and licorice all soaring from the glass. The mouthfeel is rich, voluptuous and intense, as this wine offers exceedingly dense, concentrated flavors of black cherry reduction, blueberry pie, raspberry liquor and boysenberry, alongside milk chocolate shavings and tar, all cascading on to the long mouth coating finish.
Winemaker’s Notes:
We set aside the best barrels of our Cabernet to produce Special Selection – the only wine in the world honored twice as Wine Spectator magazine’s “Wine of the Year.” Distinguished by its extremely fine, velvety tannins, this Cabernet is enjoyable upon release or improves with aging a decade or more. Fine, luxurious tannins give structure to intense flavors of supple cacao bean, chocolate and dark fruits.
Alc/Vol: 13%
Well known Napa producer. But is it the best?
Class lecture
Caymus
What makes Napa 2018 notable:
Class lecture
Smoke from forest fires:
Did not settle so no taint, but did provide shade which was a moderating influence
Five important AVA’s in Sonoma County
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Russian River
Alexander Valley
Knights Valley
Sonoma Valley
Petaluma Gap
Describe Paso Robles:
Emerging area
Dryer, hotter
Value Bordeaux blends
Heart of the Rhône Rangers movement
San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbera grapes:
Cool: Char / P Noir / Riesling
SB: wild climate variations
