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Open: 10am-5pm
Appt required? Yes
Last barlinwine.com visit: 2013
Directions:
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Tasting:
In all of my trips to Napa, I’d never noticed Sullivan. But when my friend Flint Tearney recommended it (and then joined us for a day of tasting with his wife Deena), it was time to discover it. After a right turn off of Hwy 29 onto Galleron Road, we came upon the entrance to Sullivan about halfway down the road. We made a left and entered a long, flowing driveway with vines on our left and fields of mustard on our right that ended at the winery and the Sullivan’s former home. We parked and started wandering toward the courtyard between the two buildings.
Our host Fred came out to greet us and welcome us to the property. It was a Monday, and at 3:30 we were his first visitors of the day. He gave us the option of tasting inside at a 6-seat tasting table or outside in the courtyard. The day was still crisp but comfortable, and so we chose one of the patio tables in the courtyard.
Fred started us with Sullivan’s 2005 Chardonnay. Interestingly, this was the oldest wine we would taste from Sullivan, but it’s one they no longer produce and were sharing the last of the last vintage with the tasting room. The Chardonnay was decent, but with rare exceptions whites are just a warmup for what I’m really interested in. I didn’t have to wait long.
Our next wine was the 2008 Merlot, which was delicious, followed by the 2008 Cabernet. Sullivan is in the heart of Rutherford, and the famous “Rutherford Dust” that coats your mouth after drinking a big Rutherford Cab was distinctly present. The wine was fantastic, and at $55 a great bargain. I was already happy, and the next wine topped it. The Couer de Vigne, or “Heart of the Vineyard”, is Sullivan’s flagship blend. The 2008 was made up of 40% Merlot, 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cab Franc, and 5% Petite Verdot. The wine was amazing and reminded me of Joseph Phelp’s Insignia or Frank Family’s Winston Hill. But at $90/bottle, it was significantly more affordable and I think worth every penny.
Remember how I mentioned that we were the first visitors of the day for Fred? How else to pass the time at a winery…than to start opening wine? We thought the tasting would be done after the 2008 Couer de Vigne, but it turns out we still had more to go. Fred came out and poured us a bonus wine, the 2009 Merlot he’d opened that morning when he was feeling a little antsy and adventurous. Content and impressed by the wines, I thought this would wrap things up. Nope! Out came Fred with the 2009 Cabernet. Surely that was all, right? Wrong again! We capped off a fantastic string of wines with the 2009 Couer de Vigne.
Fred still had one more wine in his back pocket. Sullivan makes a Reserve Cabernet which they don’t typically pour for tastings (although they had poured it for Flint previously) and also a “James O’Neil” Cabernet, named for the late original owner of the winery. For the grand finale, Fred poured us the 2008 James O’Neil, which was, of course, excellent.
Sullivan charges $20 per tasting, but they refund the full $20 with a single bottle purchase. Like most wineries, they also have a wine club that offers members 15% off of all purchase. But they didn’t have a gift shop – that’s not Sullivan’s style. Drat…what to do with Stephanie…
“Do you have a restroom?” my wife asked, just in time. Cue the wine club form, a speedy completion of billing/shipping info, a quick carry away order of some Cab and Couer de Vigne, and I could leave happy knowing that I will be regularly enjoying Sullivan wines for the foreseeable future.
Highly recommended stop across the board, from wine to atmosphere to price point of the wine to the overall tasting experience. Make an appointment for yourself at Sullivan – you won’t be disappointed.
Our host Fred came out to greet us and welcome us to the property. It was a Monday, and at 3:30 we were his first visitors of the day. He gave us the option of tasting inside at a 6-seat tasting table or outside in the courtyard. The day was still crisp but comfortable, and so we chose one of the patio tables in the courtyard.
Our next wine was the 2008 Merlot, which was delicious, followed by the 2008 Cabernet. Sullivan is in the heart of Rutherford, and the famous “Rutherford Dust” that coats your mouth after drinking a big Rutherford Cab was distinctly present. The wine was fantastic, and at $55 a great bargain. I was already happy, and the next wine topped it. The Couer de Vigne, or “Heart of the Vineyard”, is Sullivan’s flagship blend. The 2008 was made up of 40% Merlot, 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cab Franc, and 5% Petite Verdot. The wine was amazing and reminded me of Joseph Phelp’s Insignia or Frank Family’s Winston Hill. But at $90/bottle, it was significantly more affordable and I think worth every penny.
Fred still had one more wine in his back pocket. Sullivan makes a Reserve Cabernet which they don’t typically pour for tastings (although they had poured it for Flint previously) and also a “James O’Neil” Cabernet, named for the late original owner of the winery. For the grand finale, Fred poured us the 2008 James O’Neil, which was, of course, excellent.
Sullivan charges $20 per tasting, but they refund the full $20 with a single bottle purchase. Like most wineries, they also have a wine club that offers members 15% off of all purchase. But they didn’t have a gift shop – that’s not Sullivan’s style. Drat…what to do with Stephanie…
“Do you have a restroom?” my wife asked, just in time. Cue the wine club form, a speedy completion of billing/shipping info, a quick carry away order of some Cab and Couer de Vigne, and I could leave happy knowing that I will be regularly enjoying Sullivan wines for the foreseeable future.
Highly recommended stop across the board, from wine to atmosphere to price point of the wine to the overall tasting experience. Make an appointment for yourself at Sullivan – you won’t be disappointed.
Recommended wine: Everything was way above average, and the Couer de Vigne one of the best wines (and best value) I had over the course of the four days in the valley.
Ratings (out of 5):
 WINE | 4.75 |  TASTING ROOM | 4.50 |
 ATMOSPHERE | 5.00 |  VALUE | 5.00 |
 OVERALL | 4.81 | ||
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