POST CARD FROM NAPA VALLEY

     I send you warm Spring greetings from Napa Valley.  It is early March here in one of the world's true garden spots.  The increasing number of sunny days is warming the earth, causing blossoms of all types to begin sprouting their gorgeous colors.  Fruit blossoms, daffodils, lilies , and camellias appear first in my corner of the valley.

     Since the time of the Spanish Catholic Missionaries in the late 1700's, Spanish Mustard has been adding both beauty and nourishment to the vineyards of Napa and Sonoma.  Legend has it that the Spanish "Padres", led by Father Junipero Serra, planted mustard seed as they traveled from San Diego north to Sonoma establishing their Catholic outposts. The bright, glorious, yellow flowers bloom among the vines to this day, in almost a spiritual way.  The plants are tilled back into the soil later in the Spring to bring year long nourishment to the grapes.

     I represented Laird Family Estate www.lairdfamilyestate.com at the annual Mustard Magic celebration last January 28.  I poured in the specially decorated Reserve Room at the historical Greystone Cellars (formerly Christian Brothers).  The Laird wine table was set up in front of the old brandy pot still exhibit from the old days.  Having worked there years ago it brought back a feeling of deja vu.  The theme was mustard and Mardi Gras so I had some beads decorating the table.  The Mustard Festival was established 15 years by the Yountville Chamber of Commerce to attract more visitors to Napa Valley during the quiet months of January, February, and early March.

     As of this writing I have seen no signs of new growth on the grape vines.  It will appear soon, probably after a few more warm days.  We did have some very cold, for Napa, weather in January.  The vines were forced into a deeper than normal dormancy, so when they do begin their awakening it will be very vigorous.

     Walking through the vines the other day was magical.  The mustard was up to my hips in places.  It is easy to walk through and the flowers are bright yellow.  The background of a water color blue sky bordered by a few white puffy clouds is an image only nature could create.

     After the nice walk in the vineyards near my cabin it was time for a little refreshment.  I want to share with you a couple of nice Chardonnays I discovered recently.  No, they are not the big oaky, buttery, malo-lactated derivatives that one could serve with crem brulee for dessert.

     These two, instead, are kissed lightly with Spring sunshine.  The wines I would like to share with you are the 2005 Twin Fin Chardonnay and the 2005 Castle Rock Barrel Fermented Central Coast Chardonnay .  Concerning the Twin Fin, the grapes are predominately from Monterey.  The wine's aromas of tropical fruit and pear were inviting.  The flavors of citrus, juicy pears, mango, and casaba melon refeshed my palate and soul.  I plan on enjoying it again tonight with a chef's tuna salad and roasted, seasoned, red potatoes. It is perfect for casual dining and entertaining.  The Twin Fin wines retail around $10, a great value.  I have also tried the Pinot Noir 2005 and found it very fruity in a plumy, cherry manner, with enough acidity to be nice with food.

     The second "find" was the 2005 Castle Rock Chardonnay, also from Monterey.  It showed a tad more oak than the Twin Fin, but the flavors of citrus and tropical fruit along with the whiff of vanilla toasty oak worked together well.  This wine is also about $10. 

     When I am sipping the nice fruity Chardonnay this evening I will raise a glass to the golden sunshine, mustard and Chardonnay, toasting the promise of a wonderful season.