April’s Fool

By Michele Francisco, OWP editor High alcohol, over-extracted, heavily oaked wines. Blech. My delicate, refined Northwest-centric palate is especially sensitive to these characteristics. As someone who struggles to maintain a poker face, I began to worry as my trip to Napa approached. Would my disdain be apparent with every sip? After a recent snowstorm prevented my companion from joining me, I considered canceling my appointments. However, as a lifelong student of wine, curiosity got the best of me. What I discovered surprised me. An impressive transformation has occurred since my last visit to Napa Valley. Winegrowers and makers favor a more restrained style rather than the big, bold wines popularized by critic Robert Parker. I found wines with more elegance and nuance. It’s as if Napa has taken a page from Oregon’s winemaking book. I was pleasantly surprised by what I tasted. Between my winery appointments and other tasting opportunities during the Wine Writers’ Sy

by Hilary Berg · source ↗