Oak Knoll – officially Oak Knoll of Napa Valley – is the first appellation going north from Napa City before Yountville and one that does show a lot of flash in the marketplace. But it is an important transition area that grows red and white varieties equally well, profiting from the up-valley heat and San Pablo Bay fog and breezes.
This edition has a handful of these OK/NY wines worth trying as well as a sampling of entry-level wines from Europe.
2022 Sant-Antonio “Scaia” Trevenezie Garganega/Chardonnay ($13). An unusual combo that yields light, green, floral notes and flavors on the sweet and juicy side.
2022 Trois Noix “Ryan’s Vineyard” Oak Knoll Sauvignon Blanc ($40). A little tight with nice green-fruit flavors and some wood-like notes.
2022 Trois Noix “Muir-Hanna Vineyard” Oak Knoll Chardonnay ($50). Juicy with just a touch of oak – apples and apple juice – full bodied with good structure.
2022 Clos Solène “Hommage Blanc” Paso Robles White Wine ($78). Slightly tannic flavors of quince, lots of metallic minerality and a little cloves spiciness at the end.
2023 Clos Solène “La Rose” Paso Robles Rosé ($52). Crisp and tart, Sauvignon-like with flavors of lemon, lime and grapefruit – very nice food pink.
2022 Borsao “Viña Borsao” Spain Garnacha ($11). A genre-bending Grenache with bright fruitiness and a very good blueberry cream finish – quite nice.
2022 Sant’Antonio “Scaia” Veneto Corvina ($15). A bargain – beautiful aromas and lightly flavors of cherries, red raspberries and red table grapes and lots of racy acidity.
2020 Sant’Antonio “Monte Garbi” Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso ($23). Nice fragrance of roses with fresh cherry and lots of candied fruit tastes.
2021 Trois Noix “Noisette Cuvée” Napa Valley Red Wine ($65). A little lean and granular with dark cherry and raspberry flavors, some barrel notes, lots of tannin.
2021 Trois Noix “Muir-Hanna Vineyard” Oak Knoll Merlot ($90). Mature but not over-ripe cherry flavors that blossom down the palate with good, savory tannins.
2021 Trois Noix “Muir-Hanna Vineyard” Oak Knoll Cabernet Sauvignon ($150). Lovely mix of red and black fruits, spicy and tart with good acids and tannins.
2021 Trois Noix “Rancho Pequeño” Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon ($150). Somewhat tight, more fruit intensity than freshness – currants, dark cherries, some juicy blackberries.
Prices listed are generally SRP or from wine-searcher.com. As more wineries are now shipping direct-to-consumer, check the winery website if you can’t find a bottle in your retail store.
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