Do you want to discuss the best wines from Napa and sound like you know what you’re talking about? If you’re not an amateur sommelier, don’t bother trying to sound like one.
It’s perfectly fine – and much more relaxing – to appreciate wine without critiquing it like a pro. That said, we can still help you pick the best wines from Napa for your next date. Impress your guest with one of these top-rated selections.
1. Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
This pricey cab is pretty much a guarantee in terms of satisfaction, as it is one of the most critically acclaimed and taster-approved wines in recent memory. As one reviewer says, it has “powerful, lingering sensations.” That’s a pretty good phrase to remember when you and your date have a pour.
2. Kongsgaard Chardonnay 2015
When it comes to Napa Valley whites, you can’t go wrong with Chardonnay. The region is simply perfect for these grapes. Helmed by Hudson and Hyde vineyards, Wine Spectator says, “Well-oaked and very rich, casting a smoky, toasty aura, turning to butterscotch flavors that hang with you through the finish.”
3. Realm The Bard Bordeaux Blend 2013
This blend is comprised of cabernet sauvignon and just a splash of Petit Verdot and is sourced from four Napa vineyards. The flavor notes are incredibly diverse, with tasters picking up plenty of dark, juicy fruit, espresso, woods, savory meat, and chocolate. As intense as it sounds, it’s also known to be incredibly smooth.
4. Cirq Pinot Noir 2014
While we’re discussing the best Napa wines, we’d regret excluding this gem from Sonoma, just 10 or so miles down the road. Cirq Treehouse Pinot Noir 2014, produced by Russian River, helps set the standard for a what a good pinot noir should be. Its flavor is dominated by bright fruits, but it contains spicy depths that keep you coming back for more.
5. Kistler Chardonnay 2015
Also hailing from Sonoma is one of the area’s most notorious chardonnays. Kistler’s libation is peach-heavy, with wine lovers detecting salty notes with a hint of pastry and a healthy dose of florals. “Superb…the finish lingers on,” states one review.
6. Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Hundred Acre vineyard in Napa has a reputation as a “flamboyant” organization, and this wine is probably one of its very best offerings ever. The 2012 cabernet sauvignon stuns visually with the depth of its red-blue hue before the taster even has a chance to catch a whiff of the spicy aroma. Says one reviewer, “Just an outrageous bottle of wine! The aroma jumps out of the glass and lifts off the back of your tongue. The finish goes on and on and on……this is something truly special.”
7. HDV Chardonnay 2013
This wine is quite literally in the top 1% of all wines in the world. If that isn’t impressive, we don’t know what else to tell you. Even so, it typically costs less than $70 a bottle! People who’ve experienced it call it a “revelation,” “crispy,” and “fresh [yet] complex.” Dominant flavors are that of peach and citrus.