336173 Sun Oct 22 13:36:39 -0700 2006 16 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 1963869 I will be in Napa in 2 weeks and ny favorite wines are chardonnays with heavy malolactic fermentation. Any suggestions of wineries to visit that correspond with my prefence? The other couple likes pinots- any suggestions? My tentative wineries are: Nickel, Cakebread,Duckhorn, Rombauer, Jessup, Kuleto, Trefethen, Stags Leap, Robert Sinsky, with possible visits to Vinecliff and Flora Springs. Sun Oct 22 13:36:39 -0700 2006 48383 pof 1 1964165 Also check out Frank Family - I believe one of the Rombauer brothers is involved with them - excellent wines! Don't know how high Chateau Montelena chards are, but it is a beautiful winery! Sun Oct 22 17:37:34 -0700 2006 1963869 10392 torta basilica 2 1964237 Just a note that Chateau Montelena chardonnay has no malolactic fermentation, one of the few in Napa. Sun Oct 22 18:12:31 -0700 2006 1964165 10039 Melanie Wong 3 1973624 Wow, that's good to know (being a non-malolactic acid fan myself). How are their wines? Thu Oct 26 07:05:52 -0700 2006 1964237 16908 coolbean98 2 1974863 I must respectfully disagree with Frank Family. I went there earlier this year for the first time since it changed over from Kornell (once a favorite of mine). The wines were disappointing and overpriced, and the place just had a sleazy salesman feel to it. One of the people I was with remarked that it felt more like a used car lot than a winery. I would recommend Cakebread. While not a fan of MLed Chardonnays, I've seen those who are go apeshit over their wines. For good Pinot, I'd suggest a very slight detour to Carneros instead. Schug is a good stop. -Nick Thu Oct 26 18:47:11 -0700 2006 1964165 10343 nja 1 1973332 Oh, lordy...I can't stand some of these "over-the-top" malolactic chardonnays, but will still recommend some. Rombauer has a full-ML ("balls to the wall," as they say in the wine business) Chardonnay, with also a heavy dose of residual sugar (RS). Nickel and Nickel do not make malolactic chardonnays. They don't need to: their fruit is so superior they don't need to "boost" it with false flavors. Try Chappellet, with its full-ML Chard. Also, Franciscan makes a reserve Chard called "Sauvage" that my be heavily ML. Other possibilities: Miner and William Hill. Pinots are not such a Napa specialty anymore, even those from the Carneros. Try the Oregon Reserve Pinot Noirs, or something from the Russian River Valley. Thu Oct 26 03:15:27 -0700 2006 1963869 18222 maria lorraine 2 1973608 Thanks. I love the "over the top" chardonnays. In fact, Rombauer is my favorite. Thu Oct 26 06:35:43 -0700 2006 1973332 48383 pof 2 1974146 Rombauer should fit the bill. Thu Oct 26 15:31:47 -0700 2006 1973332 49153 Frijol 1 1974356 Some really good pinots at both Artesa and Sinskey. Artesa also has a very nice chard, ML for sure and a great sauv. blanc. Sinskey only for their pinots which are outstanding and produced from organically grown grapes. Thu Oct 26 16:26:06 -0700 2006 1963869 10925 rtmonty 2 1975288 I'm not a big fan of Artesa, although the winery has a good view and the wines are supposedly getting better. For pinot, check out Mahoney in Carneros if you are in the area. Thu Oct 26 20:36:14 -0700 2006 1974356 14367 The Dive 1 1974619 I'm a bit surprised to see Trefethen on your list if you profess to enjoy only fully ML chards, because Trefethen's Chards are generally subjected to only part of the lot undergoing ML, and they are therefore quite different from the Rombauer etc. style. Honestly, Napa is not the place for pinot noir, although you might find a few wineries that source their pinot from Carneros or Sonoma or other regions more suited to that grape. Thu Oct 26 17:46:42 -0700 2006 1963869 13305 DonnyMac 2 1975142 Thanks for the information. How is Trefethen overall for a tasting? Thu Oct 26 19:58:07 -0700 2006 1974619 48383 pof 2 1975212 DonnyMac, what wineries would you suggest in Napa valley for high ML chards? Thanks. Thu Oct 26 20:17:05 -0700 2006 1974619 48383 pof 1 1975436 I'm more a Sonoma fan, myself. I'd recomend Schug (www.schugwinery.com), particularly thier 'Carneros' (that's the southern region of Napa/Sonoma) chardonay. Thu Oct 26 21:15:49 -0700 2006 1963869 23418 Manuel 1 1975704 Trefethen is a very nice place to visit and taste. Because I'm not usually fond of California chardonnay that has been given heavy oak and full ML treatment, and I'm not generally into paying Napa prices, I can't recommend any wineries in Napa that specialize in what you're looking for. You might try searching the Wine Spectator ratings online, where you can limit the search by grape (chard), location (Napa) and points (90+) - since they tend to score the style of chardonnay that you enjoy highly. Thu Oct 26 22:34:24 -0700 2006 1963869 13305 DonnyMac 2 1975721 Frank Family makes a malo chard so buttery, they call it "liquid cream brulee." I bought two bottles on my last trip, and my guests a few nights ago LOVED it, although I prefer a simple, clean un-oaked Chard, like Kunde Estate, myself, with less of a glycerin feel. I thought the folks at Frank were lovely people, although the tasting room is far from sumptuous. I was surprised at the quality of their sparkling wines, which were more to my taste than Schramsberg, quite frankly. I also liked their higher-end Cab very, very much. Thu Oct 26 22:39:55 -0700 2006 1975704 27748 rruben1 1 1975834 I'd suggest William Hill Estate (formerly William Hill Winery) - new team there and the Reserve Chard is spectacular. And you should try Domaine Chandon for their pinot noir and pinot meunier. Thu Oct 26 23:33:10 -0700 2006 1963869 49277 jimtak 1 1975938 Definitely Rombauer if you are looking for that buttery taste. Cakebread also makes some nice wines. The Reserve chard should fit the bill Fri Oct 27 00:20:53 -0700 2006 1963869 43009 jenwong