A Unique Wine Tasting Experience at CALDWELL Winery

“I only drink to make other people seem interesting.”  -George Jean Nathan-


A friend of mine recommended that we visit a winery in Napa called Caldwell.  She added that the proprietor, John Caldwell, was interesting and entertaining.  Visitation is by appointment only so we made a reservation for Sunday, February 12 at noon.

We were greeted by John Caldwell and in a very short time he proved to certainly be entertaining.  Great sense of humor and easy to talk with.  He showed us into the tasting room located in a wine cave that he had had constructed under a hill.  The temperature and humidity are constant.

John and the three of us sat at a table.  There were various tidbits of food to accompany the wines.  John explained that almost all of his wines are sold at the winery to club members, visitors (lie us) or on-line.  Only one of his wines, Rocket Science, is available outside the winery and those are sold to high end restaurants and hotels.

John's story of how he had to smuggle vines into the US of A.  He wanted vines from France.  He heard of a winemaker in Canada who had French vines and John was able to purchase some and then smuggle them across the border into New York and then get them to California.  The story is charming and convoluted and one worth hearing in person.

Those smuggled French vines are now producing some incredible wines and we were able to sample a few of them.  We started with a Syrah Rose'.  Then a Chardonnay and a Sauvignon Blanc, both exceptional.  Next, on to the reds!

First we tasted the Syrah, clone 470, a powerful, inky, Syrah, full of pepper and spice.  Then the Rocket Science, a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tannat, and Petit Verdot.  Loved that Rocket Science!  Last, we tasted the Caldwell "Silver," a proprietary red blend of all five Bordeaux grapes, Cabernet, Cab Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot.  This blend was exceptional.

Unfortunately, John's wines are a little more expensive than we usually budget but we bought five bottles, nonetheless, and all are now resting comfortably in the wine cooler.  Two bottles of Syrah, one bottle of Caldwell Silver, and two bottles of Rocket Science.  Im gonna have to open a bottle of Rocket Science the next time we have a dinner that will pair nicely with that blend.

His wine club is called Society of Smugglers. Don't you just love it?

I heartily recommend a visit to Caldwell Winery where you will be thoroughly entertained by John and you will taste some remarkable wines.

Call for an appointment at:  707-255-1294 or email at:  info@caldwellvineyard.com.  They are located at:  169 Kreuzer Lane, Napa, CA  94559.   We definitely needed our GPS to find the cave.

You'll have a ton of fun and taste some mighty fine wines!  Get thee to Caldwell!


Tom da Wine Guy

Livermore Valley Wine Visits

One of my favorite wineries in the Livermore Valley is McGrail Vineyards.  We first visited McGrail three years ago not long after they had opened to the public.  Well, McGrail has come a long way.

Their 2008 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was named Red Wine Sweepstakes winner at the San Francisco Chronicle 2012 wine competition.  This means that all 65 judges agreed that this was the best red wine of the year.  This is the largest wine competition of American wines in the world with over 5,500 entrants and McGrail is the first Livermore winery to receive this prestigious award.

We scored two bottles of that 2008 Cabernet.  Go to www.mcgrailvineyards.com if you want to order this wine.  I'm sure that they're getting low on their inventory, so hurry!!!

While in Livermore we returned to another favorite winery, actually two, both owned by Steven Mirassou (you probably know that name).  The two are side by side, La Rochelle, featuring Pinot Noirs, and Steven Kent winery featuring Cabernet Sauvignon.  All the wines at both tasting rooms are excellent and reasonably priced.  All wines were $50 or less with one exception, a $60 Cabernet.

Our hosts, Jeff and Jordan were full of information and very helpful with our questions.  And, they were lots of fun which is always an asset.

"Tom da Wine Guy"

Paraduxx Redux: Or...lots of X's

We visited Napa Valley for a couple of days and as many of you who read my posts know, I am a big fan of Paraduxx Winery, one of the Duckhorn wineries.  Paraduxx is the one winery we always visit when in Napa.  Why, you might ask?

Because we love the wines, the people working there, and the ambience.  All the people are wonderful and we meet someone new on each visit who really helps to make our visit special.  This time it was Sterling.  He was very knowledgable and very friendly.  We had fun and laughed a lot like this HAHAHAHAHA!  It was a very fun time.

The Paraduxx Assistant Manager, Angela, is unique and I credit much of what we experience in the tasting room to her influence.  She's warm, has a great smile and will make you feel special.  When you visit, be sure to ask for Angela and tell her that Tom da Wine Guy sent you.  You'll be glad you did.

Oh, we even drank some wine.  You may recall that Paraduxx specializes in red blends but also offers a few white blends.  We tasted one white and five red blends.  The Paraduxx winemaker, David Marchesi does a fabulous job and I like his palette. Truthfully, I don't know if I've ever tasted a wine of theirs that I didn't like.  Obviously, there are some that I find preferable, but they're all very fine wines.

(1)  2010 V Blend:  A blend of 60% Viognier and 40% Chardonnay.  Just a hint of sweetness.

(2)  2007 Paraduxx Napa Red Blend:  72% Zin, 18% Cabernet, 9% Merlot, 1% Cab Franc.  Smooth entry with a long finish and temperate tannins.

(3)  2008 Paraduxx Napa Red Wine Blend:  68% Zin, 24% Cabernet, 7% Merlot, 1% Cab Franc.   Another smooth wine with light tannins.

(4)  2009 Z Blend:  Another red blend with 62% Zin, 31% Cabernet, and 7% Merlot.  Fruit-forward with soft, elegant tannins.

(5)  2009 Howell Mountain Napa Valley:  A red blend of 72% Zinfandel and 28% Cabernet.  An excellent blend with more mouth-feel and slightly heavier tannins.

(6)  2008 Canvasback Napa Valley Red Wine:  A blend of 63% Syrah, 35% Grenache, 1% Carignane, and 1% Cabernet.  At the end of the day, this blend was our favorite but truly, I would have been happy with any of the red blends.  We left with a bottle of the Canvasback to add to our collection of Duckhorn wines in the cooler.

So, get thee to Paraduxx at:   7257 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA  94558.  (707) 945-0890.  

Have a great time there!!!

"Tom da Wine Guy"

Helpful Wine Tips

“Cabernet Sauvignon is like a Black Labrador - it comes up and licks you.  Pinot Noir is more cerebral-it’s like a cat.”   -Attributed to Scott Rich, Moraga Vineyards -


Many Trader Joe's customers ask very good questions while visiting the wine section at our store.  This posting will address some of the more often asks along with my clever, witty replies.  Hope you enjoy.


                                                            Helpful Wine Tips

Storing an opened bottle.  People often ask me how to store an unfinished bottle of wine.  Having never experienced an unfinished bottle of wine, I had to do some research on this predicament so that I could pretend that such an occurrence had happened at least once and that I knew what to do.

White wine is easy.....just stick the cork or screw top back in (or on) the bottle and put it in the refrigerator.  It should last 4-5 days.  The wine air pumps have become popular but I find them unnecessary.  The wine tastes the same to me with either method, at least up to 4-5 days.  Longer than that, a pump may be an advantage.

Red wine has two options; if the wine will be consumed the next day, put the cork or cap back and leave it on your counter overnight.  Not only should it be drinkable the next day, but often, red wine actually improves because of “breathing” due to contact with air and the wine may soften overnight.  If the wine will not be consumed the next day, then put it in the refrigerator.  It will not soften as much as the previous option but it will last 2-3 days, usually.  After that length of time, the wine will slowly oxidize to a point that it becomes undesirable.

Removing a wine label:  Literally, this is a very HOT TIP.  Ever want to remove a label either because it is attractive or because it will help you remember a wine that you really enjoyed?  You don’t need to soak it for hours in the sink before trying to pull or scrape it off which often results in a cute little pile of label confetti.  First, fill the empty bottle with hot tap water and let it sit for two minutes. Next, empty the tap water and refill the bottle with boiling water and let it stand for 3-4 minutes.   Grab a corner of the label and gently pull. The label should easily peel off in one piece for your wine scrapbook.

Wine Serving Temperatures:  The proper temperature for serving wine will show off the particular characteristics of the varietal.  If served too cold, the flavors are hidden.  It’s like eating a frozen pizza while it’s still frozen.  If served too warm, the taste of the alcohol can be overbearing.  When serving red wines, “room temperature” really means “cellar temperature,” which is 55-60 degrees.

Red wines should be served between 60-64 degrees.
Ports - 55-58 degrees.
Rose’ - 55 degrees.
Viognier - 52 degrees.
Chardonnay - 48-50 degrees.
Riesling - 45-48 degrees.
Champagne - 45 degrees.

Okay, okay, how do you distinguish between 52 and 55 degrees without a wine thermometer?  I can’t.   Just chill your reds in the fridge for half an hour or so before serving and chill your whites in the fridge overnight (then let them warm in the glass) or put them in the freezer for an hour before serving.  Don’t over-chill chardonnay, though, as the aroma and taste is really dampened if too cold.  Maybe a wine thermometer is the way to go...

Needless to say, I also get numerous questions about food/wine pairings but I won't get into that as it's complicated and often personal to the wine consumer.


"Tom da Wine Guy"

“An alcoholic is someone you don’t like who drinks as much as you do.” -Anonymous-

Trader Joe's Hot Tip on Two French Wines

Trader Joe's has two French wines that I just love.

(1)  Laurent Reverly 2010 Sancerre from the Loire Valley.  It's 100% Sauvignon Blanc and it's superb.  Lots of citrus but not as grapefruity as the New Zealand versions.  Personally, and this is just my humble opinion, but I think that Sancerre is the benchmark for Sauv Blancs.  At $12.99 a bottle, this is a lot less costly than my wife and I were paying on our last visit to France in October (wow, over two months ago).

(2)  G. Chevalier 2009 Sauternes.  This incredible dessert wine is rich with guava and apricot.  This 375ml bottle is $12.99 and worth every penny!  As soon as it came into our store I bought a bottle to take home and taste.  My wife and I finished the entire bottle before the night was over.  That means it was very good.  Again, it's very difficult to find a decent Sauternes for a mere $12.99.  Yes, I said "mere."

This Sauterne is from the Bordeaux region so the grape blend, while unspecified, will consist of Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and probably a little Muscadelle.

For those of you who like the Hillgate Zinfandel from Lake County, it has returned to TJ's.  This 2010 vintage is not quite as good as the 2009 but still good enough at $6.99 a bottle for a case purchase...that means I like it.

Hope all of you have a great year in 2012 despite the Mayan Calendar!


Tom da Wine Guy

Whimsical Wine Gift Scenarios

"Wine... the intellectual part of the meal."  -Alexandre Dumas-

Each holiday season I offer a series of wine gift scenarios different persons in your life.  So here goes for the coming 2011 Christmas and New Year holidays.



You need a great wine gift for your boss.  Your performance review is coming up so you want to get a memorable and impressive bottle of wine.  A wine that will remind your boss of YOUR generosity when he presents the review. You know that your boss prefers red wine so consider the highly rated Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars “Artemis” 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon at $49.99.  Yes, it’s pricey, but you might consider “accidentally” leaving the receipt in the bottom of the TJ gift bag.  It might assist with your next promotion.  It’s a big, bold cab with tannins and black currant aromas and tastes.

You need a wine gift for your very frugal parents-in-law.  Sure they’re frugal, but they grew up affected by stories of the Great Depression, which was even worse than our current economic situation, so cut them a little slack.  You’re visiting the in-laws for a holiday dinner, which will be superb!  You wrestle with purchasing an inexpensive wine that they will appreciate as a great value (but you won’t), or do you get the celebratory Veuve Clicquot Champagne for $42.99, which they will consider wasteful?  Perhaps a compromise is in order.  Go with the Toasted Head or  Rodney Strong Chardonnay, each $10.99 and both are superb.  The Toasted Head is a bit buttery, while the Rodney Strong is a tad crisper.

You need a wine gift for your best girl friend!  She loves white wine and she loves to help you with your problematic boyfriends and you do the same for her.  What a friend! She deserves and will get something special.  She’s going to receive the Moet & Chandon Champagne at $32.99 a bottle.  Your best girl friend will share this wine with you, of course, while the two of you gleefully reflect events of the past year and discuss plans for a wild New Year’s celebration!  This Champagne offers a crisp, dry yeasty flavor.

You need a wine gift for your best “Man-cave Buddy!”  But you’re worried because you’ve always given him a case of beer for the holidays but he’s been venturing out with some simple wines and you want him to experience something better.  You’ve purchased a bottle of Wild Horse Merlot for $11.99 a bottle.  He comes to your Man-cave and you offer the gift.  “Wow, dude, that’s the smallest case of beer I’ve ever seen, but I love the wrapping,” he says.  “Yeah, it’s the Sunday funnies; I wanted some color,” you explain.  He rips through Dennis the Menace and Doonesbury.  He stares at the bottle...”You shouldn’t have, dude.”  “I’m glad you like it,” you reply.  “No dude, I meant you shouldn’t have....just kidding!  Thanks, dude, you’re the best!  Let’s pop this cork and put the game on.  This should go great with the chips, salsa, and nachos.  Ah, life is good, dude!”  Your best dude is easy to please, so no worries.

You need a wine gift for the host and hostess who have invited you to their holiday dinner.  You go to TJ’s and see Tom da Wine Guy for assistance.  My first question, of course, is what entree is being served?  You don’t know, but being clever, we narrow it down to either turkey, prime rib, ham, pasta with red sauce, or seafood.  Given the potentials, a sparkling wine would work but I suggest a Pinot Noir, specifically the La Crema at $18.99 a bottle.  It’s a favorite Pinot and will work with any of the above entrees.  It’s a fruit-forward Pinot with lots of raspberry and light tannins and has personality plus!

One word of advice when providing hosts with a bottle of wine; you don’t need to know the entree.  In fact, the hosts probably have planned a wine pairing unless they’ve specifically asked you to bring the wine.  Any bottle of wine you bring is your thank-you gift and if they choose to serve it with the meal, that’s their prerogative, but your wine will be appreciated regardless of the meal.  So don’t sweat it.  Just enjoy the meal and the visit with friends.

You need a wine gift for a special service provider.  Maybe it’s your hair dresser, or your manicurist, your plumber, or your personal trainer. It’s a business relationship with someone you respect and whose service you appreciate, but they’re not your best friend. I would suggest almost any wine in the $8.00 to $12.00 range.  You can select very nice red or white wines in this range; too many to mention, but ask someone in our wine section for specific recommendations.  Also, look for “Tom’s Choices” or “Eli’s Picks.”  We’re here to help.

Lastly, you need a wine gift for the office party.  You drew the name of a co-worker that you’re not particularly fond, so what to do?  Do you insult him with a bottle of famously inexpensive wine or do you try to mend fences with a nice wine that you know will be appreciated?  You need to weigh your experience with the co-worker and determine if a “peace offering” will work or will he just see you as weak?  I think that I might play it safe and just go with the insultingly inexpensive wine.  Just kidding!!!  After all, tis the holiday season.  Walk the high ground, get a nice gift in the same range as for the “special service provider.”  You’ll be the better person for it and you can revel in knowing that you did the right thing; the next step is his, or hers.

“So life's year begins and closes; Days though shortening still can shine;
What though youth gave love and roses;  
Age still leaves us friends and wine."  -Thomas Moore-

Hot New Wines at Trader Joe's!!!

Hello Readers.  There are two new wines at Trader Joe's that I am highly recommending.

(1)  Trader Joe's 2009 Reserve Carignane (Kare-in-yawn) for only $9.99 a bottle.  My wife and I tried this wine a few nights ago and we both had an OMG eye-popping first sip experience.  The entire bottle was consumed with our meal.  Lots of pepper, blackberry, and raspberry.  As you probably know, Carignane is generally used as a blending grape in the Southern Rhone Valley of France.  This domestic version was bottled in Paso Robles by Castoro Cellars.  Yup,  only $9.99 a bottle.

(2)  Cotes De Provence 2010 Rose' bottled by Quinson & Fils.  This Rose' is bone-dry with a tinge of watermelon, spice, and some minerality.  But only $4.99 a bottle!  That's almost highway robbery at that price.

Get thee to your nearest Trader Joe's and stock up on these two wines.

I'd upload photos but I'm having trouble with the server.  Sorry.