Whitehall Lane Napa Cabernet 2000

Whitehall Lane is not what one would consider a small winery. It's large production, estate vineyards in Napa Valley, and the Tuscan Villa appearance of their tasting room would have one believe that being big might affect the wine's quality.

But this family run operation is well located in St. Helena with vineyards in some of the best growing areas of the Napa Valley. Founded in 1979 but family controlled for just the last 13 years or so, the Leonardini's have become well respected and well received by reviewers for some time.

The 2000 year was considered a weak one, but I have stated before, what looks less than stellar one year can become quite a star six years later. This may just be one of those wines.

With a dark color in the glass and the wonderful aroma of cherries in the valley fruit, this wine is a pleasure to smell and taste without the need for decanting or breathing. Unlike the 1999 Napa Cabernets which are still waiting for fruit to shine though the tannin and 2001 which has good flavor but is still a might young, the 2000 is just hitting it's stride. It is lighter than the Reserve, but still has a nice mellow mouth feel with lingering taste on the palette. The addition of 14% Merlot and 2% Petite Verdot attest to the fact that the 2000 season needed a wee bit of assistance to bring out both the body and color in this wine.

Although reading through the fact sheets on the WHL website, it would appear that the winemaker has used small quantities of other grapes to enhance the color or taste of their wines for some time. Other wineries (like Neal Family) will use 100% Cabernet to provide what would be the essence of the fruit untarnished by other juice.

But check out their reserve Cabs. You will see that when you look for the best barrels, you can make the wine with far less fillers and flavoring. The Reserve 2000 in particular at 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petite Verdot. Or the 1999 at 100% Cabernet Sauvignon!

Like I said, Whitehall Lane is not small production with the regular 2000 Cabernet at 15,040 cases. (180,480 bottles! Yikes!!) The Reserve was even fairly substantial at 3,140 cases. But they still make a nice wine.

WHL also makes Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and a sweet dessert wine called Belmuscato, which is made from 60% Muscat Alexandria and 40% Orange Muscat grapes. A very nice wine for after dinner.

If you have a chance and are out that way, try them out for a taste. Wines range from $15 for the Sauvignon Blanc to $75 for the reserves, and more for Library wines.

As with all wineries in the area, tastings are not free, and can become downright expensive. But it's ok to pick out a few of the better producers to see how the other half lives....

Give my regards when you go! They don't know me, but they will probably act like they do because they are just nice folks.

MMMMMM. Pot Roast and Cab. What could be better.