Hunnicutt - Cab, Chard and Zin for Enthusiasts who want the winery to themselves

The Experience: Hunnicutt Winery is a well-kept secret in northern Napa for people seeking a relaxing, intimate environment, serious wines and the beauty of nature. Tastings are scheduled in advance and done privately, one group at a time, starting with a personalized welcome sign bearing your party’s name. One can’t help but feel the exclusive feeling that you’re at a private home away from home - there’s no crowded tasting bar here! The decor is cozy, but chic, with bicycle paraphernalia adorning the walls (the Hunnicutt family are active sports enthusiasts). Nestled under beautiful pine trees, you will enjoy these well-integrated, ageable wines expertly crafted to be enjoyed by those who love wines of great structure and finesse with a hint of playfulness. Just a couple of tasting appointments are offered each day so that guests can really enjoy the tasting experience without being rushed, or having a tasting attendant who is distracted by servicing other groups. The cave and property tour are worth the extra fee, and include barrel tastings of some of the single vineyard red wines. The winery was completed recently in 2011 and makes wine for 20 other small Napa Valley wine brands - you’ll see their barrels aging in the cave cellars.

The Team: Justin Hunnicutt Stephens, with his father Don, owns and operate the property, producing the first commercial vintage of Hunnicutt in 2004. Justin made his way to Napa after working in the world of commercial real estate and having an “awakening” that wine was his true passion. After making the decision to change careers, Justin moved to the Napa Valley and worked at notable wineries including Miner Family, Saddleback Cellars, Venge and Seavey Vineyards, gaining winemaking knowledge before founding Hunnicutt in 2001. In 2004, he joined a winery started by his father Don, (the D. R. Stephens Estate brand) and is now the Managing Partner of both wine brands as well as Hunnicutt Wine Company, LLC, which is a custom crush winery in St. Helena. Kirk Venge is Hunnicutt’s winemaking director and known for his great expertise and knowledge. Kirk grew up in Rutherford and was always surrounded by wine. After getting his degree from UC Davis, he worked at Mumm and also in New Zealand before returning to Napa to start his own brand, Venge Vineyards, while also consulting at several local wineries including Hunnicutt. Seana, Justin’s wife, grew up in San Francisco and worked for advertising for 10 years before moving to Napa to start a family with Justin and help with the advertising for Hunnicutt.

The Wines: Hunnicutt wines are best described as bold, but well-balanced - for those who like a substantial wine but appreciate complexity. The winemaking philosophy starts in the vineyards - Kirk and Justin work with the winery’s growers to develop the highest quality fruit and from there let the terroir shine through in the wine. Grapes are sourced from all over the valley. The Zinfandel comes from the Chiles Valley region in the eastern Napa county. Cabernet grapes come from three vineyards sourced from Rutherford, Spring Mountain and St. Helena. These vineyards produce very different wines which combine elegantly for a well-balanced, smooth wine. Hunnicutt keeps the wine from each vineyard barreled separately until the final blend - you can taste them in the barrel and notice the distinct differences in the single lots. Hunnicutt also produces Chardonnay, coming from Rancho Sarco Vineyard in Coombsville, Star Vineyard in Rutherford and Dutton Ranch Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. While you seldom see a winery that specializes in these three varietals, they are able to focus on these “wines that are their favorite to drink” by sourcing grapes from various parts of Napa and Sonoma valley - untethered from any estate vineyards. Outside the Hunnicutt wines, the CUTT label was developed as a catch-all for different varietals that the winery switches up yearly. The varietals selected each year for CUTt depend on what unique and special vineyards the winemaking team can and choose to source based on availability. There is one bottling under the label that is consistent in name, if not blend, and that is the “Fearless Red” - always a unusual and fun blend wine, perfect for casual drinking and entertaining! It should be noted that the other Hunnicutt red wines are made to be aged. 

The Name: Though Justin grew up being told different dramatic stories about where his middle name, Hunnicutt came from, Justin eventually learned that Hunnicutt was actually his Great Grandmother’s maiden name. It is also now the middle name of their daughter, Parker Hunnicutt Stephens. The companion brand, CUTT, was added in 2007 - focused on producing wines other than Zinfandel, Cabernet and Chardonnay.

The Credo: “We strive to produce excellent quality wines while trying to make the idea of wine unintimidating. Wine evokes fond memories and is supposed to be fun”. Though I didn’t get a chance to meet him, Mo, our gracious guide, describes him as down-to-earth and he apparently is regularly present at the tastings, chatting and pouring wine for visitors.

Visit Details: The winery is open daily by appointment only. You can make a reservation by calling 707-963-2911, or book online here. Portfolio tastings for up to 12 guests cost $35 per person, or you can choose to do a tour of the 15,000 sq. foot caves, which includes barrel tasting and a wine tasting paired with cheese and charcuterie in the Cave Room for $70 per person for up to 8 guests.

Tasting Notes:

2013 Chardonnay - $45
Bright with notes of honeysuckle, lemon zest and tropical fruit paired with subtle hints of orange blossom, vanilla and shortbread providing enticing depth in each glass. On the palate the supple notes of citrus and melon shine brightly and linger on through the mid palate, where they are met by delicate spice and a hint of toasted ground vanilla bean on the long tapered finish.

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley - $55
Bursting with boysenberry, blackberry and black cherry. Underlying the immense fruit, there is a lovely, but subtle, floral component lending elegance to this big wine. Warm, toasty vanilla from the French oak is present, but frames the fruit rather than dominates the palate. The mouthfeel is explosive and dense. Velvety Nutella, crème de cassis, blueberry pie and blackberry jam hit your mouth in tidal wave proportions. The tannins and bright acidity ensure a long, prosperous life in your cellar, but the fine grain tannins allow this wine to be enjoyed in its youth… with vigorous decanting.

2012 Zinfandel - Not currently available for purchase
This gorgeous Zin exudes aromas of blueberry preserves, boysenberry and sweet oak. The palate offers rich, brambly blackberry and blueberry flavors with youthful tannins wrapped in a soft blanket of boysenberry and plum. The incredible depth of fruit, supported by a firm acid backbone makes this wine wonderful on its own and absolutely delicious with food.

2012 CUTT Fearless Red - $45
This deeply hued wine evokes the bramble of blackberry and blueberry. The fruit notes are abundant, but with freshness, signifying perfect ripeness. Accompanied by the fruit notes are subtle hints of vanilla and black pepper dancing around the edges. On the palate, lush berry notes burst forth, intermingling naturally with the promised pepper and allspice. On the finish, the abiding blackberry continues and is paired with light toasty oak, vanilla and rounded dusty tannins, which lead to a long lovely finale.

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Hamel Family - The hottest new wine family since the Mondavi’s

Have you ever tried to dress casual chic only to find that it’s a lot more difficult than putting on a formal suit or dress? It may be because it’s hard to find just the right balance between comfortable and elegant, chic and unpretentious. Hamel Family Wines has perfected this art like no other winery in Sonoma, somehow managing to make you feel like you’ve been invited to someone’s warm, private residence, but leaving you with such an elevated experience that you realize a large amount of thought and care went into every detail that made you feel just that comfortable.  Hamel’s limited production premium wines are fantastic and keep getting better; no surprise given the Hamel Ranch location at 15401 Sonoma Highway, nestled at the base of the beautiful Mayacamas Mountain range in the region that is known for producing the most coveted Sonoma Valley blends. The property was acquired by the family, George, Jr. and Pam Hamel and their sons, George III and John Hamel in 2010, but the property had a history of being family owned for over 100 years (the Hearst family was a previous owner).  This family element is a common theme in the Hamels’ vision of creating a winery that is like a  home to its loyal customers and treasured guests.

The wines (Sauvignon Blanc, Rose (made from Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre), Zinfandel and a Bordeaux style Cabernet blend) are all high quality and beautiful wines, but they share the spotlight with the winery’s brand itself, elevated by the all-star team that reads like a who’s who of the industry’s finest. This includes consulting winemaker, Martha McClellan, whose credits include some of THE top tier Napa Valley cult wineries, Harlan Estate, Sloan Estate and Checkerboard Vineyards; organic viticulturist Phil Coturri, famed design genius, Ken Fulk, who manages branding and lifestyle events, which have included campfire concerts, an outdoor movie series, and vineyard dinners catered by Gary Danko. When it comes to hospitality, the Hamels have definitely invested in adding extra touches of luxury. George III (aka GIII) couldn’t rave more about Hamels’ hospitality director, Dawn Agnew, who was previously maitre d' at Gary Danko's. Dawn’s responsible for many of the personalized touches at Hamel, which include pashminas for visitors on chilly days and badger-shaped door mats let outside your car door to prevent any mud from getting inside when you depart.  The winery and estate were designed by Gould Evans, an award-winning architecture firm whose principals and associates are united around a common vision: to create environments that transform their surroundings, engage their occupants, and sustain their environment. This ethos shines through at every touchpoint. While the estate and winery are breathtaking, they are not ostentatious and blend in elegantly with the natural beauty of Sonoma Valley. Entering the winery, floor to ceiling glass draws all attention to the surrounding picturesque landscape. The color palette is muted and there are clean, modern lines to showcase the expansive views of the surrounding vineyards.  The walls lack expensive artwork, but the property's natural beauty captures your focus.

The interior design by Angela Free, is equally thoughtful, with detail that includes a variety of natural and reclaimed materials.  The rammed-earth wall that spans the length of the 6,875 Estate House was made from excavated earth from the development of the winery. The Hamel Family made sure that virtually nothing was carted away from the property and everything was put to use in some way.  The 12,000 sq. ft caves are made from excavated Monterey Riverbed and house 3 state of the art concrete eggs that are both decorative and functional. While they’ll be used for Sauvignon Blanc, they currently sit dramatically in front of 3 exposed earth walls that showcases the different the layers of terror that while made naturally, could easily have been mistaken for modern art. Personal touches abound, from the stately round dark wood table in the Winery’s Reserve room, sourced to resemble the family’s own dining room table, to the chandeliers in the Library that are made with differently shaped crystals, each piece of which is magnetically attached to the circular metal frames so that they can be adjusted if the “energy” of the room needs to be tweaked.

We visited Hamel Family twice - once on the official opening and again for a special visit for my father’s birthday. The first event was over the top fun with a “Camp Hamel” theme that carried through the event from the staff uniforms (that looked like girl and boy scouts), to the catered food selections (which included a tent for charcuterie and Zinfandel, a make your own trail mix bar, Delfina Pizza truck paired with Girl and the fig offerings, and much more) to the decor (With Ken Fulk’s team managing, it was perfection).  The second visit was intimate and charming. Tastings are scheduled by appointment only and though the property is large enough to host sizable events, as a rule they host only up to 4 parties at a time so that every guest gets a premium experience.  Every tasting is led by a personal ambassador and everything you could imagine wanting in a tasting has been anticipated. We were fortunate enough to enjoy a tour of the winery and caves with George Hamel III who is personable and jovial as he led us through the inner workings of the winery and provided some fun anecdotes. One thing is clear - this family is serious about hospitality and quality, but never lose sight of being playful and clearly enjoy what they are doing. 

They’re in the industry to promote a certain lifestyle experience and build a solid brand rather than to produce vast quantities and make a quick profit. When I inquired about future plans, GIII confirmed that the family winery will remain small production and doesn’t plan to produce more than 6,000 - 7,000 cases annually and these limited production wines will be distributed primarily to the wine club members.  What’s next for the winery? Continuing to build the wine library of vintage wines is in the plans. There is a new floor to ceiling wine cage, inspired by the great houses in Bordeaux, which will eventually hold many verticals of the Hamel wine. A new executive chef program is also in the works - GIII mentioned that the newest team member, Clinton Huntsman, hails from Bouchon restaurant and Calistoga Ranch and will be joining the team to add to the private dining experience at Hamel.  It’s clear that in this spectacular setting, with this armada of artists and gurus, Hamel Family is aligned for continued success.

In the winery, we checked out the Hamel’s winemaking in progress as the grapes were still fermenting in the tanks.  Hamel takes a delicate approach to winemaking, carefully sorting grapes and using primarily gravity flow to press the free-run juices.  Three types of vessels are used for winemaking: conical shaped stainless steel tanks, custom made in Burgundy, French Oak barrels made from four different French cooperages, and the concrete eggs. Each vessel adds spice and character to the grape juice that when blended together, making for a magical, well-integrated product.  The grapes themselves are predominantly grown on the Hamel Ranch estate, though they have a second vineyard,Tres Palmas Vineyard, located 7 miles northwest of Hamel Family Ranch in Sonoma Valley. Also in the works is a demo vineyard on the ranch close to the Tasting Center that showcases all the varietals grown on the ranch and will even be made into it’s own special cuvee.

The property is designed so that guests have a variety of tasting options and can select the location that suits their preference. This could be set up on comfortable cushioned chairs outside on the terrace overlooking the vineyards, in the dramatic Reserve Room in the caves, or enjoying a more refined experience in The Library. We were set up to taste in the beautiful library, and the table was set elegantly with pressed linen napkins, beautiful Holmegaard wine glasses, customized tasting menus, and the perfect artisanal charcuterie and cheese board.  Everything was customized to suit our preferences; Our ambassador, Stephen, initiated the tasting by making sure we had selected the music or our preference (jazz), and making sure the temperature was perfect.  The five wines we tasted were all beautiful and we had ample time to savor each before moving on to the next (see tasting notes below).  Even the “spittoons” for unfinished wine were custom sourced from Burgundy. When we reluctantly parted ways, the finishing touches were polished - a sign of true hospitality. Dawn Agnew insisted on making the call to our next winery herself to let them know we’d be slightly tardy (oops - too much fun at Hamel!), and we were sent on our way with artisanal bottled waters and gourmet sea-salt covered chocolate bars. When we reached our car, there was one final surprise, but you’ll have to visit yourself to experience it as well as hear for yourself the great story behind the Hamel Family mascot, the badger. Read more about the Badger or visit yourself: Hamel Family Wines, open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. 15401 Sonoma Hwy., Sonoma Valley, (707) 996-5800.www.hamelfamilywines.com.

The Wines:

2013 Rose -  $28 per bottle: 519 cases produced.

in the glass, the rose exhibits a copper jewel-toned color, with aromas of ranier cherry, white peach, and strawberry set against a backdrop of fresh flowers and sage.  On the palate, the rose is clean and bright upon entry and smooth and round on the mid-palate and finish.  While retaining its brightness throughout, the carefully selected blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, combined with time spent in oak sur lie, lend the wine a full concentration of flavor and a smooth mouth feel.

2013 Sauvignon Blanc - $40 per bottle: 228 cases produced

This golden wheat colored wine displays aromas of bright citrus, lemon brioche, and sliced green apple. Behind the initial fresh fruit characters are tones of flowers, wet stone and sea breeze.  A verve and vibrancy on the palate is balanced by a layered richness and complexity derived in part from the fermentation in French Oak and aging sur lie.  A prominent mineral tone is carried through to a long and rich finish.  

2012 Estate Zinfandel - $45 per bottle: 289 cases produced

This wine has a deep, dark ruby hue in the glass.  The aromatics show dark cherry, a hint of blackberry, and plum framed by floral and spice elements of violets, black peppercorn, anise and nutmeg.  The entry is rich with firm tannins and lush depth bridging the mid-palate and finish. This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered. While this wine is approachable and powerful while young, it will gain complexity in the months and years to come.

2011 Isthmus - $80 per bottle: 273 cases produced

Deep ruby in its hue, the Isthmus displays pure aromas of dark cherry fruit, plum, and fresh earth, woven in with notes of vanilla, charcoal and lilan.  The brightness and freshness of the fruit carries over onto the palate.  Supple yet balanced, this wine juxtaposes a juice mid-palate with fine tannins and a firm, persistent finish.  Showing accessibility in its youth, this wine’s structure will keep developing over the next 10 years.

2010 Bordeaux Blend “Pamelita Reserve” -  $135 only 11 cases left

Made from 65% Cabernet, then Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot, this wine shows the most complexity and ageability. Aromas of blackberry, red plum and cassis mingle with dark chocolate and baking spice. The palate is inviting and silky, with savory notes of earth and leather balanced by a backbone of acidity and a smooth tannin structure. This wine's layered finish makes it enjoyable now or cellar-worthy for years to come.

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Hess: World Class Art meets Fine Wine

In my humble opinion, the benefit to viewing fine art in a museum is solitary access to priceless, collectible art from renowned artists.  However, museum visits lack one thing that I love about gallery parties - the wine and cheese!  There’s nothing like absorbing visually inspiring art while spearing tasty morsels of aged gouda and imbibing the nectar of the Gods. Enter your ticket to Napa’s art and culinary paradise; Hess Winery and Art Museum, where you can enjoy world-class art and quality wine at one destination.  Nestled into the hillside of Mount Veeder, Hess Collection Winery brings art and wine together like no other locale I’ve visited the valley. Swiss art collector and entrepreneur, Donald Hess, originally traveled from Europe to Napa in search of a new mineral water source for his Swiss company.  While the Calistoga water source didn’t meet his standards, a visit to the Christian Brothers' 1903 property inspired him to purchase it to grow grapes and later produce wine starting in 1978. The historic stone winery was originally constructed in 1903 by Colonel Theodore Gier, though the winery first opened to the public in 1989, that same year Hess concurrently opened his 11,000-square-foot museum.  The art museum was opened at the winery in part to promote artists Hess had been collecting, including the likes of Anselm Kiefer, Francis Bacon, Frank Stella, Franz Gertsch, and Andy Goldsworthy and also as a great PR campaign to entice visitors to his winery, which is situated ff Napa’s beaten track, along a winding tree-lined road aptly named “Redwood Road”.

What attracted Donald Hess to Mount Veeder was exactly what kept other vintners away - the elevation and mountain climate.  Many of Napa’s early winery owners were turned off by these features in favor of warmer, flatter AVAs, but Hess was familiar with this style of mountain vineyard farming from his homeland, Germany, and confident that it would yield high quality grapes and wines.  Because of the low demand at the time, Hess was able to purchase his Mount Veeder property for as little as $17 per acre!  Today, Mount Veeder is distinguished among Napa’s mountain districts for its geologically diverse soils - Hess alone has 13 different soil types which is why Hess wines are known for their complexity, structure and elegance.  The winery is best known for its flagship Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines, as well as single vineyard designates from its estate vineyards in Napa Valley and of course, it’s art.  

Though I’m hesitant to admit it, what finally enticed me to visit Hess Collection was their famed art collection, a feature I thought my LA-based artist friend, Simone Drucker, would appreciate on a recent visit up to Napa with me.  As it turns out, Hess began collecting art in 1966, growing his collection substantially since then.  At the present, the Hess Collection in Napa houses only a quarter of his priceless collection and the rest is spread throughout museums worldwide.  His collecting style is a personal endeavor driven by a passion rather than investment.  Hess is not drawn to famous or trendy artists, but develops a close dialogue with an artist to better understand what drives him or her to create and then faithfully supports that artist long term (many of these artists have reached world-wide fame).  One of the qualities of The Hess winery group and credo that I find most appealing is that the focus doesn’t lie on Hess himself, but rather on his marriage of art and wine as complimentary.  At Hess, both are made accessible to the public for reasonable prices; A $10 fee provides access to the the winery tasting room and tour of the gallery, and the “affordable luxury” wines average in the $20 - $30 price range - a steal for Napa standards.  Ever supportive of the community, Hess is also a leader in sustainable practices; the Hess Collection Winery was among the first 10 wineries to receive certification for the Napa Green Winery program and is enrolled in the Napa Green Land program, soon to be completed.  Donald Hess has a credo: “Nurture the land; return what you take.”

What to expect on your visit: Visitors can sip the estate’s highly regarded wines in a spacious tasting room or paired with cheese out in the shaded gardens before or after a tour of the 3-story galleries, which display about 120 works, including favorites such as photorealistic paintings by Franz Gertsch and an installation of melted and cracked rocks by Andy Goldsworthy.  Windows near the gallery staircase offer glimpses of the working winery with overhead views of the giant fermentation tanks.  If you wish to call ahead, you can arrange for a special tour.  My visit included an informative guided tour of the grounds and art gallery led by Larry, a knowledgeable 7-year veteran guide at Hess.  We could have spent two more hours in the gallery easily marveling at the treasures beholden there, but a cheese and wine pairing awaited us from the third floor private tasting room, that was irresistible even in the presence of such awe-inspiring art.  

We did a blind tasting of 4 wines, each paired with a fantastic local artisanal cheese (notes below) which drew out nuances in the wines that may have been missed without the culinary compliments.  The Mount Veeder wines stood out in particular - the mountain fruit can taste  more concentrated, complex and distinctive from valley fruit.  I would recommend planning a full day expedition to Hess - this is a destination where you want to leave plenty of time to browse the fantastic art, enjoy a light picnic or wine and cheese pairing in the garden, and then peruse the gift shop on your way out. The wines are reasonably priced for the quality and the winery truly makes for a complete well-rounded destination.  Tasting notes and cheese-pairings below:

Wine and Cheese Pairing:

1) 2011 Artezin Mendocino Petite Sirah $25 with Toma Pasteurized Cow’s Milk Aged 3 Months - Point Reyes Farmstead, Point Reyes, CA

Bright aromas with dark and brooding fruit of blackberries, dry forest and exotic spices with nuances of leather and tar. Flavors of black cherry, cassis, nutmeg and allspice with a mouthfeel that is highly textured, like velvet, and a very slight grip that is beneficial for aging. Try it with chocolate truffles too!

2) 2011 Hess Small Block Sauvignon Blanc $24 with Inverness Pasteurized Cow;s Milk Aged 2 Weeks - Cowgirl Creamery, Point Reyes, CA

Nice light aromas of lemongrass. On the palate, there are tropical notes and passion fruit.  An elegant nuanced wine with vibrant fruit flavors of grapefruit and kumquat balanced on the finish by a crisp acidity.

3) 2011 Hess Collection Napa Valley Chardonnay $22 with Carmody Pasteurized Jersey Cow’s Milk Aged 6 weeks, Bellwether Farms, Valley Ford, CA

Subtle notes of vanilla bean and brioche complement distinctive citrus aromas such as tangerine and lemon zest. A combination of fermentation in stainless and in oak barrels brings focus to the bright fruit characters of white nectarine, pear and green apple. Aging in mostly neutral French Oak for nine months allows the fruit to remain on display.  A small portion of the wine is allowed to complete malolactic fermentation resulting in a crisp, fresh taste with a solid acid backbone.

4) 2009 Hess Collection Mount Veeder 19 Block Cuvee $38 with Big Rock Blue Pasteurized Cow’s Milk Aged 2-3 Months, Central Coast Creamery, Paso Robles, CA

Aromas of cedar and black licorice. A rich entry of black cherry and ripe plum is supported in the mid-palate by oak nuances of vanilla, caramel and graham cracker. A long, silky finish of polished tannins suggest immediate approachability but the wine will continue to improve over the next several years.

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HALL Rutherford - A Work of Art

I have been to HALL Rutherford five times and it never ceases to impress me with its stunning beauty, timeless modern art collection, top-notch hospitality, and most breathtaking wine cave I have ever seen. While most Napa visitors are familiar with the St. Helena Hall Tasting Room located centrally along the St. Helena Highway, a visit to HALL Rutherford evokes a completely different experience. Located on the same winding road as the famed and ever-elegant, Auberge de Soleil, HALL Rutherford can be visited by appointment only and one must gain admittance through the gated entrance. The Winery and Tasting Room are located on the same property as one of the Hall Family residences, so you truly feel like a guest of the family as you are welcomed to the property.

The tour begins in the Tasting Room, which resembles a luxurious private guest house, with the exception that is loaded with world-class modern art, has a stunning outdoor patio complete with wood-fired pizza oven, and sits atop a

winery and wine cave that are

unparalleled in style and technology. Guests are welcomed at the front door with a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc and invited to enjoy the art work and view from the patio. Photos of Ambassador Kathryn and Craig Hall pictured with various celebrities and dignitaries pepper the walls and an architectural model of renowned artist Frank Gehry’s new design for the Hall St. Helena Winery assure you that you are a guest of highly cultured, worldly patrons and supporters of the arts and humanity.

The boutique HALL Rutherford Winery, completed in March 2005, was custom designed by an Austrian designer with no detail spared. The unique hexagonal tanks are so beautifully crafted that they can almost be mistaken for as part of the collection of art that line the caves. Hall Rutherford harvests only a small portion of their grapes, is dedicated to making single vineyard and limited-production wines. Juice from the crush is gravity-fed into the fermentation tanks then into the art-lined caves for barrel aging.

At HALL Rutherford, art is ubiquitous - the statue of a flying couple on the patio, the glowing star mobile hanging above the tanks, the enormous butterfly out in the vineyard… But arguably the most dazzling piece of artwork on the property is the magnificent, shimmering chandelier in the Tasting Cave above the King Table. The chandelier was designed by Donald Lipski, who previously designed the chandelier at Grand Central Station, and, after being commissioned by Mr. Hall, designed this custom chandelier to resemble the root system of a grape vine. The chandelier is enhanced by 1500 glistening Swarovski crystals, paying homage to Ambassador Kathryn Hall’s Austrian Heritage.

I’m not sure if sitting down to a tasting in such a regally adorned cave has anything to do with it, but every time I taste a Hall wine, it tastes like liquid gold. Some of my favorites to try:

Kathryn Hall Cabernet: 2006: Aptly names after the Ambassador, this is a very special wine. It is dark and as smooth as silk, peppered with spice and even earthy notes of sage and mushroom.
Hall Sauvignon Blanc 2008: Crisp and full of citrus, with hints of grapefruit, lemon and pineapple. The wine also exudes stone minerality at the finish.

Hall Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006: This wine is perfect on its own with a nice

long finish. It is powerful and full-bodied, with rich mocha and anise adding spice to the fruit-forward stone fruit flavors.

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