Voted Best Cave Tour in Napa Valley, Jarvis Estate is literally located inside a mountain. We've seen our share of wine caves over the years but nothing compares to this place. The winery is shaped like a wagon wheel with a natural spring and very neat waterfall in the center. The "spokes" of the wheel are lined with barrels and winemaking equipment. The outside rim allows the wine to be moved out for shipment. An enormous room was built that can double as a storage room or a ballroom. We were in awe. Another smaller ballroom is lined with a collection of enormous crystals. You just can't make this stuff up.
The wine tasting room is a little side room carved into the mountain. You have to cross a little creek to get in.
I was really looking forward to visiting Jarvis. Several years ago I ordered a bottle of Jarvis 2005 Lake William at Pappas Brothers in Dallas while we were out for my birthday. It was so wonderful that it made my Top Ten list of favorite wines. Since then I have always kept an eye out for Jarvis on wine menus and at wine shops but have not been able to find it. Now I know why - they just don't make very much of it. It's a small production winery with a very loyal wine club that buys most of what they produce. Solution - join the club!
We started our tasting with the 2010 Finch Hollow Chardonnay (95 points from Wine Enthusiast). The white wine drinkers really liked it. It's not a buttery Chard. It's crisp and very fruit forward. As is typical of high quality Chardonnay, it was layered so as it warmed, the flavor changed. This bottle retails for $95.
Next up was the 2009 Inner Circle Blend. It's primarily a Cabernet Franc which is not one of my favorite types of wine. If you like Cab Franc, you would probably love this wine. It retails for $50/bottle.
The winery has created a nice 2010 Tempranillo which we were able to taste. It retails for $70/bottle.
We moved on to the 2008 Will Jarvis' Science Project which literally is a wine that originated as an 8th grade school science project. It's primarily a Cab Franc so you'll love it if you like that grape. Wine Enthusiast awarded it 90 points and the Dallas Morning News gave it a Gold Medal in their annual wine competition.
The 2009 Jarvis Merlot ($95/bottle) was terrific. My husband loved it and it went on the order sheet.
Next we tried the 2006 Jarvis Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($110/bottle). Jarvis typically releases its Cabs at 6 years though they may wait longer if the winemaker does not think the wine is ready. We drank this wine side-by-side with the 2005 Jarvis Reserve Cab ($195/bottle). Both were outstanding but the consensus was that the 2006 was the best.
To further complicate the ordering process, we next tried the 2004 Jarvis Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and it was the best of all! Of course, it's also SOLD OUT. However, you can still buy it from the winery if you buy it as part of a 3 bottle flight.
Finally, Lake William. Lake William is a blend that is made from grapes grown on Jarvis' Lake William vineyard. Every year the composition changes depending on the yield from the vineyard. We tasted the latest release which is the 2007 vintage. It is made up of 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 21% Cab Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. It is aged for 23 months in New French Oak barrels. 1427 cases were produced.
Heaven. Loved it. Bought lots of it.
The 2006 Lake William won a ton of awards. I expect the 2007 will do the same.
Going to Napa? Make an appointment to visit Jarvis. Even if you don't drink wine, the cave tour is worth the trip.
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