I just returned from my annual sojourn to Napa Valley and visiting several wineries. The Valley is just returning to normalcy after ravaging fires that occurred throughout Napa Valley, Sonoma and Santa Rosa. As you enter Napa Valley from the South you immediately see the damage caused by the Atlas Peak fire on the east side of the valley. Damage on the perimeter of Stags’ Leap Winery and Shafer Vineyards off Silverado Trail is quite evident. Winemakers I met with repeatedly told me the vineyards served as a fire break due to the dirt roads that generally circumvent vineyards and the water content of the vines. Approximately 90% of the 2017 Harvest had been completed at the time of the fires which helped to avoid additional financial damage.
One of my visits was to Raymond Vineyards in St. Helena. The Raymond Vineyards tasting room was one part Cirque du Soleil and one part wine making. The mannequins on the trapezes and candelabras were an interesting touch amongst the tanks of fermenting wine!
Raymond produces several varietals of wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay). Their Cabernet Sauvignon lineup has several “District” specific Cabernet Sauvignons (Atlas Peak, Oak Knoll, Yountville).
The Raymond Winery was purchased in 2009 by Jean-Charles Boisset, who is President of Boisset Family Estates, a family owned wine company that owns several California and French wineries.
If you can get past the “theatrics” associated with the winery they produce a “Generations” Cabernet Sauvignon which is outstanding. I recently enjoyed “Generations” while dining at The Lodge at Torrey Pines. After ordering the wine at The Lodge the sommelier asked me if I was familiar with “Generations”. When I told him I was, he said it’s the best value on The Lodge’s Wine List. If you can find “Generations” I highly recommend it.
As I walked the Raymonds property I reminded myself you can’t always judge a book by its cover!