Barrel tasting an oenophile’s delight

Barrel tasting

Every true wine enthusiast wants to be invited to a Napa Valley barrel tasting. It’s a lot like other wine tastings, except all the wines come straight from the barrel. Experts try the results of last year’s grape harvest now and guess how good the wine will be when it’s in the bottle. If you’re starting your own wine collection, you’ll definitely want to go to some barrel tastings and find out what you should be saving room for. You might also get the chance to buy a wine future at a discount. This is a lot like any other futures contract — you agree to buy a certain number of bottles of wine once the wine has been bottled. By agreeing to the purchase ahead of time, you save money on the wine.

Barrel tastings at a St. Helena vineyard

Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards in Napa Valley, a 10-minute drive from downtown St.Helena, holds tastings in its barrel caves, where current releases and library wines may be sampled. Tastings are $65, but one tasting fee can be waived by joining their wine club or making a $100 purchase.

An example of a library wine that might be available at an Anderson’s Conn Valley wine tasting is the 2009 Èloge. This dark ruby red wine, born from a particularly mild year, has a deep, full, layered aroma of cedar, cigar box and crème de cassis, with hints of red currant, violets, spice and toast. Its flavor is deep, full and layered, tasting of concentrated dark fruit, spice and mocha. Club members save $25 on the ’12 Èloge. Join today.

Going to a barrel tasting

Wine club barrel tastings

Barrel tastings are a chance for wine connoisseurs to try the most recent vintages and guess how good the wine will eventually become, and to meet connoisseurs and get their opinions. You may also get the chance to buy wine futures at a discount. Many wine clubs hold barrel tasting events.

Good rules to follow at any wine tasting are to wear nothing strong-smelling like perfume or cologne, and to limit the number of wine tastings. If in doubt, pick something you’ve never had before, because the whole point of going to a barrel tasting is to discover new wines.

Barrel tastings vineyard near St. Helena

Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards in Napa Valley holds tastings in its barrel caves. One tasting fee can be waived by joining their wine club or making a $100 purchase.

Try a recent Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, a complex wine grown from numerous clonal varieties of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. An older Estate Reserve Cab, 2007, was formed by a cold and dry early and middle year, with a sudden burst of heat around Labor Day that helped the grapes produce more sugars. The result was a dark ruby red wine with an aroma of dark fruit, Bing cherries and licorice. Its flavor is balanced between fruit, oak and acid, with sweet tannins and hints of chocolate cake.

Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards is a 40-acre estate just south of Howell Mountain near St. Helena, and has been owned and operated by the Anderson family since 1983. Anderson’s wines are sold online and in five locations in Napa Valley, and many other locations nationwide.

Try the latest wines at a barrel tasting

Wine Club barrel tastings

One event that wine clubs like the Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards wine club are known for is the barrel tasting. A barrel tasting is like other wine tastings, except that all the wines come straight from the barrel. You can taste last year’s wines at their earliest stage and try to make a guess as to how good it will be when it’s judged ready to be sold.

When you’re going to a barreltasting, the usual rules of wine-tasting functions apply. Don’t wear anything strong-smelling, don’t act like this is a bar, and don’t drink too much, especially if you’re visiting more than one vineyard and there’s no food. A designated driver might also be a good idea, just in case.

Barrel tastings at a vineyard near St. Helena

Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards in Napa Valley, near St. Helena, holds tastings in its barrel caves. A tasting fee can be waived by joining their wine club or making a $100 purchase. The vineyard is a 40-acre estate just south of Howell Mountain, and has been owned and operated by the Anderson family since 1983.

One wine you might want to try Anderson’s Conn Valley is the Èloge. The most recent bottled vintage, the 2011 Èloge, is an elegant wine with an aroma and taste of plum, licorice and violet perfume, and a long and satisfying finish. Despite being the newest Èloge offered by Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards, the ’11 vintage is destined to become a rare vintage. There’s no better time to buy a bottle than right now.

Going to a barrel tasting

Spring barrel tastings

Spring is a good time for a barrel tasting. This is a lot like other wine tastings, but the wines all come straight from the barrel. Often wine futures are sold at a discount here. A wine future is much like any other futures contract — you agree to buy a certain amount of wine, once it has been bottled. By committing yourself to the purchase ahead of time, you save money on the eventual purchase price.

Barrel tastings don’t necessarily involve food to go with the wine, which means you’ll want to bring a designated driver along, especially if you’re going to several barrel tastings. Don’t taste too many wines — pick wines you’ve never had before. The idea is to make new discoveries. As at any wine tasting, don’t wear any strong-smelling perfume or cologne, and remember that this isn’t a bar.

Barrel tastings vineyard near St. Helena

Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards in Napa Valley, a 10-minute drive from downtown St. Helena, holds tastings in its barrel caves, where current releases and library wines may be sampled and visitors can learn all about the process of making and storing the wine. Tastings are $65, but one tasting fee can be waived by joining their wine club or making a $100 purchase. The annual Spring Fling is in May.

Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards produces world-class wines at affordable prices. The vineyard is a 40-acre estate just south of Howell Mountain, and has been owned and operated by the Anderson family since 1983.