Pardon The Punctuation...Located in the Stag's Leap district of the famed Napa Valley this stunning property creates equally stunning wine. Being a Lexus owner means I'm able to go on LexusDrivers.com and set up complimentary tastings at several of the best wineries in Napa. So when Chimney Rock Winery popped up on the list I jumped at the opportunity like Adele on a twinkie. The property is serene and absolutely gorgeous. Off in the distance you can see the actually chunk of mountain called "Chimney Rock" that gave the winery it's name. Right off the bat you'll notice that everything here is about TLC. From the South African style architecture to the style of wine making...they do it right. Enough of the fluffy stuff, lets get to the wine. I'm just going to tell you about the star of the show for me. The 2008 Elevage. Every other wine I had was delicious. From the Tomahawk vineyard to the Alpine vineyard they all kicked ass. But I'm going to focus on the Elevage.
2008 Elevage: This is a Bordeaux style of wine. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. To quote their website,"serves as an artistic portrait of the vintage at the Chimney Rock estate. Experience this blend that evokes finesse and complexity, depth and dimension, and truly highlights the singular nature of the Stags Leap District." The 2008 vintage consists of %56 merlot, %38 Cabernet, and %6 petit verdot. Aging in new french oak for 18 months really helps build the french characteristics of this wine. Smooth finish with silky soft tannins and a clean soft finish. This wine is perfect. You can drink it now and store it for a few years and rock it out then. This wine is a testament to one of my favorite wine makers Elizabeth Vianna.
When you make a trip to Napa make sure to put Chimney Rock winery on your list. They know how to do it right in every sense of the word. This is definitely a winery that's worth becoming a member of. So many of their wines are so limited that only wine club members get to taste them. Worth every penny.
