Lava Vine (4.63)


http://lavavine.com/



Open: 10am-5pm

Appt required? No (requested if group is 6 or more)

Last barlinwine.com visit: 2011

Directions:

View Napa in a larger map or Get Directions

Tasting:
We tried Lava Vine on the advice of the esteemed Bob Thomas. Bob was coming off a string of so-so wine recommendations -- Russian Hill (2.63) and Failla (3.94) come to mind -- and to paraphrase Dumb & Dumber, “You know Bob, just when I thought you couldn’t (suggest any more average tasting spots), you go and do something like this…and TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!”.

Lava Vine was great. We decided to sneak in a start-of-the-day tasting before an appointment at Jericho Canyon, and the energy level was already awesome by the time we walked in shortly after 10. The three guys working the tasting room seemed to genuinely enjoy their job and the winery, and their constant banter and ribbing of each other lightened the mood. Surprisingly, we were not alone at this off-the-beaten-path stop early on a Saturday, and the four ladies who beat us there by a few minutes plus the two of us made for crowded conditions in the small tasting room.

For our tasting, we tried six wines, many paired with small food samples to accentuate the nuances of the wine. We started with two delicious whites: a Chardonnay and a Viognier. We then moved to a tasty Grenache, followed by a lackluster Syrah and a far more memorable Cabernet. We finished with their Port and nearly had a taste of their members-only Petite Sirah before our host was notified that it was "beyond spoken for" and he’d just cut the foil on someone’s purchased bottle…oops!

The food samples for the most part were things one of the staff had picked up that morning at the Calistoga farmer’s market. Offerings like fresh figs to go with the Viognier or salted dark chocolate to pair with the Cab made the tasting experience both memorable and enjoyable. When we decided at the close of the tasting to purchase a few bottles (shocking, I know), the guys walked us to the car and carried our wine for us, an unnecessary but genuinely kind gesture.

Overall, this stop was one of the highlights of our last trip and we’ll definitely be returning for more fun in the future.

Recommended wine: I enjoyed just about everything they poured. Very good and affordable whites, and the Cabernet was a great accompaniment to our dinner at JoLe later that night.

Ratings (out of 5):


WINE
4.25
TASTING ROOM
4.25

ATMOSPHERE
5.00
VALUE
5.00

OVERALL
4.63

1 comment:

  1. We live in the Bay Area and like nothing more than taking a day to drive through Napa and taste at 2-3 wineries. Based on Barlinwine notes, we were intrigued with Lava Vine. We tried it today and were sorely disappointed. The very small and shabby tasting room was crowded, the "levity" of the pourers cost them several customers who weren't getting attention. The wines themselves were limited - generally good, but one poor white and four reds. They were pouring a 2011 Cab that simply wasn't ready and should not have been out of the bottle. They also poured a Knights Valley Cab that was decent, but overpriced at $100.00 a bottle. I would have given the winery at best a 3.75 for the wine, 3.0 for the tasting room, 4.0 for the atmosphere and 3.5 for the value.

    For what it is worth, of all the wineries that we have been to, this is the first one that I have found where my opinions differed meaningfully from yours.

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