More Travel Along Old Wine Trails
Part 2 of Sunday’s winetasting tour
 After leaving Grgich Hills, we made a quick decision to stop at Whitehall Lane Winery. I had some of their reserve Cabs recently at a sales-oriented tasting and remember being pretty impressed. I didn’t take notes then nor did I take them on this trip. Sometimes you just have to live in the moment. And so when I decide to drink the 2004 Whitehall Lane Silver Anniversary Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon someday, I won’t have any point of comparison for how it tasted in November 2007. But I will remember how Doug kept trying to talk me into buying the bottle (despite my earlier declaration that I shouldn’t buy wine) and how instead BK was sweet enough to give in for me. And I’ll probably laugh as I recall the story about Doug’s dad and the cell phone tower, water damage, and the police…though maybe not as hard as I did the first time.
We finished up with Peju, whose wines I’ve never had before nor heard much about. Unfortunately, I can’t say I enjoyed the experience. Though the facilities and grounds were well-designed and worth an examination, I didn’t take to the tasting set-up. It was family style, where you have to wait for enough people to fill up a station before being able to taste. My problem was that unlike in a Hibachi restaurant where the chef draws you in to feel connected, we simply seemed like four or five separate groups forced to drink at the same pace with hardly any time to talk to each other about the wines in between. So though I was interested in a couple of the wines, including a red and white blend called Provence, I can’t see myself making a repeat visit.
I do plan, however, on making a visit to L.A. to hang out with Doug and Steve and drink some of this wine I keep hearing about.
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POSTED IN: Napa Valley, wine friends, winery visits
10 opinions for More Travel Along Old Wine Trails
Chris
Nov 30, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Mmm, I’ve enjoyed the few Grgich Hills wines I’ve had, and I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who doesn’t take notes on these tours. After all, even a dedicated blogger should enjoy a good tour.
john witherspoon
Nov 30, 2007 at 2:47 pm
i just laughed out loud in my office. The vision in my head of a Hibachi chef serving wine - throwing it into the customers mouth as the cork lands safely in his hat.
Funny image.
Nice post.
John
:)
doug
Nov 30, 2007 at 3:59 pm
we had a great time… thanks farley… if only there wasn’t that liquid ban on carry ons i would have purchased a few myself… though my collection here is overflowing… damn my addiction to wine…
Farley
Dec 1, 2007 at 2:37 am
Chris, I usually do take notes, but it was impossible while laughing so much.
John,
Glad you enjoyed my anti-analogy. I left out the idea about feeling like a herd of cattle.
Doug,
I had fun, too. Can’t wait to do Santa Barbara again.
Amy
Dec 3, 2007 at 2:17 am
i’m so glad that someone else had the same impression of Peju that I did. I think my experience might have been worse. after waiting in a disneylike line, we were herded to taste. Unfortunate or not based on your perspective, to me unfortunate. Our pours of the wine took forever because the tasting room person insisted on playing songs on his guitar between tasting. So you couldn’t talk about the wine, b/c he was playing and you couldn’t get any more till the horrible song was over. It was frustrating that it became funny. I’ll always remember Peju but I won’t be back
Farley
Dec 3, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Amy,
I didn’t know it could get that bad, but someone I work with mentioned the singing tasting room pourer as well! He didn’t go into as much description as you, though. That’s insane to me.
doug
Dec 4, 2007 at 4:29 am
and don’t forget that when you come visit me down here, i have a very special treat for you (the one my dad makes out behind the camphouse…) i don’t have much left since he sent it to me for my birthday… so…. just another enticement for you to come down… and i’m sure that we can come up with some even funnier stories of my good ole country boy father…
BK
Dec 5, 2007 at 11:40 pm
Peju was definitely the low point of that day for me, including consideration for the outlet mall… The tasting room felt like the gift shop of a B&B museum. I’d buy more of their wine though; some of their efforts were definitely interesting and unique. Sadly, one of their bottles broke in the trunk just before getting back. Whitehall Lane was my favorite though. I’m so glad it wasn’t the 04 Cab that broke!
Megan
May 12, 2008 at 10:54 pm
I can see where Peju’s tasting experience would fall short for many, but being a wine club member definitely has its privileges there (especially when you get to zoom past the 5:30 last-call crowd!). Peju’s red wines (especially the Carignane, Zin, Cab Franc, and Cab Sauv) are delish though. The Sauvignon Blanc is what lured me here a few years ago (although for the last couple vintages I have preferred sister winery St. Supery’s SBs) — but the reds are what keep me going back (and in the wine club)!
Farley
May 13, 2008 at 11:01 am
Megan,
Thanks for the alternative viewpoint. There are probably some wineries where I get better service and see things in a more positive light than other customers. Like Domaine Carneros, when my friend hooks me up!
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