Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

In 1953, Jean Baumard acquired vineyard in Quarts de Chaume, in 1968, purchased substantial acreage in Savennieres. Today Jean’s son, Florent, manages the winery. Aromas of green fruits, floral and flinty notes. On the palate green apple, pear, melon and slight nutty flavors, well balanced with acidity. Medium+ length ending, no fluttering with fresh juicy mineral, just like the butterfly on the label! Will age well if you can resist opening. — 6 years ago

Eric

9.3

Butterfly lemon curd. Just south of rich. Great with fish — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

A Bordeaux blend. Spends 22 months in 70% new 400 liter oak barrels. Nose of fragrant floral fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum. Licorice, anise, dark chocolate and fresh, dark florals. The fruits are ripe and fresh and match the nose. Black licorice, tarry notes, loamy soils, moist dark soil, lead pencil, cedar, tobacco, underbrush, great acidity and a beautiful long finish. The structure is better as is the tension and length. This bottle needs 8-10 years in bottle for a higher score but for many hard not to dry young. Photos of the view from the Long Shadows patio, another one of the glass blown floor lamps and a concrete fermentation egg...interestingly in an inverted shape I hadn't seen before, no real difference in effect. — 8 years ago

Greg Gregory

9.7

Perfectly stored bottle and if put in a blind tasting of 1986 First Growths it would be a dead ringer for the Lafite. As Muhammad Ali would've said "Floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee". Fantastic. — 9 years ago

Inga Ezerskaja

9.0

Светло-соломенное с зеленью. Очень свежее. Кислотность не чувствуется. Достаточно плотное, тельное, средняя маслянистость. Цитрусовые, цветы. Послевкусие пряное. Очень-очень круто! На каждый день, бюджетно. — 10 years ago

John Weber

9.0

I was actually really surprised by this wine, as I am typically not a Shiraz fan. — 10 years ago

Sasha Smith

Wine Blogger Spin the Bottle NY

9.6

Hands down winner from today's #Elevenses @Christie's Wine. Bottled in the 70s, recorked in 2011. Sercial, so you know the acidity is in full effect, but the wine is really harmonious and balanced. It's not as "offbeat" as some other older Madeiras I've had, and honestly would be straightforward to pair with food...roast chicken, for one. — 11 years ago

with Richard and Katie

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

The 2012 Domaine Jamet Côte-Rôtie is an absolutely monumental wine from this challenging vintage in the Northern Rhone. Tasted with eminent Washington vigneron, Christophe Baron, this beautiful wine needed more than an hour decant. The seductive nose picks up gorgeous range form red fruits to citrus rind and bulls blood as well as iodine that all connect marvelously in the glass. The palate has tremendous verve and energy, as the silky mouthfeel and wonderful tension in the wine create a lasting effect. A dusting of white pepper hits you instantly, alongside bacon fat, red cherry puree and red plum infused black tea flavors all marvelously aligning. The mouth-watering acidity to the wine is absolutely stunning. Fantastic now, this beautiful wine will continue to evolve over the next two decades. Drink 2019-2035- 95 — 7 years ago

Paul H

8.9

This wine opened up with what seemed like a cherry Vanilla Coke aroma. This may be off because the wine was a little warmer than what I like and I am not sure what effect that may have had on the aroma. We actually asked for a wine chiller to cool it down a bit before we drank. It is a Florida thing because of the heat. Drank pretty nicely with cherry and a slight licorice finish. It was rather smooth and should be a nice restaurant go to in the next few years. #stagsleapwinecellars #artemis #napavalley #cabernetsaugvinon #AtlanticBeach #Ocean60 — 8 years ago

with Kim

Pete Schork

9.3

Ripe fruit gives way to baking spices baking spices baking spices. Jammy but not overly so. This is a unique little number, very interesting and agreeable — 9 years ago

Amr Elazhary

9.0

Nice fresh apple, hint of flower and melon.. dry.. fresh acidity with a nice citrus and spicy effect.. not complex but tasty, light and fresh! I love it! — 9 years ago

Holly Hawley

9.0

Now my go to wine of choice. Absolutely love it! — 9 years ago

Olivino Wines

9.4

Baking spices! Honeyed effect but dry, silky, long finish! — 10 years ago

Alex Alan

Wine Director Hotel Delmano

9.0

2008. Rich on the palate. Harmonious expression of fruit and soil. Bio-D in full effect. — 11 years ago

Laurie Gray

9.8

Such a great bargain Chardonnay.. Simple sweet with a baby bite to it — 11 years ago

Sam Shepard

9.3

97 was singing tonight. Black olive in full effect — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

The nose reveals; dark currants, blackberries, heavy black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries and some blueberries. Black tea, expresso roast, anise, crushed dry rocks, big vanilla, clove, a little nutmeg, dry underbrush, sweet tarry notes, leather, woody notes with dark fresh & withering flower bouquet.

The body is big and lush. The tannins are big, meaty and tarry. Very dark currants. Blackberries, heavy black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries and some blueberries & strawberries as they open up. Black tea, expresso roast, steeped fruit tea, anise, crushed dry rocks, dry clay, big graphite, big vanilla, dark spice, clove, light dry herbs, a little nutmeg, dry underbrush, sweet tarry notes, leather, cedar with violets dark fresh & withering flower bouquet. The acidity is round, fresh and beautiful. The big, long, well balanced finish is excellent and look forward to having this in 15-20 years. This one will be a stunner!

Photos of, the barn where they make wine and hosts tastings, our private tasting area inside William’s old office. William desk and their outside terrace area.

Producer history & notes...Seavey Vineyard is located along Conn Valley Road in the eastern hills of Napa Valley, about 15 minutes from the valley floor.

This historical property was originally a cattle ranch. However, records indicate grapes were planted on some of the hillsides as early as the 1870’s. The stone dairy barn, still in existence, was built in 1881.

William & Mary Seavey purchased this property in 1979. The estate was originally founded by the Franco-Swiss Farming Company in 1881 which, closed down when Phylloxera destroyed their grape vines and the Volstead Act (Prohibition) went into effect. At the time of their purchase, they were a horse and cattle ranch. They quickly planted the slopes with grapes and initially sold their fruit to Raymond Vineyards. They have never purchased grapes, all their wine is made from estate grapes. Their vineyards are separated into 20 plus individual blocks.

Today, the property is about 200 total acres of which, 40 acres are planted to vine. Their hillside vineyards produce low yields of rich concentrated fruit. A small block of Chardonnay grows in a cooler lower part of their property. Besides grapes, they also raise cattle which are used to graze the hillsides. They feed the vineyard with the cattle cuttings. In 2003, they were one of the first Napa wineries to install solar.

Mary passed away in 2008 and William died in 2016. There daughter Dorie returned to the family business and now oversees the winery operations. Her brother Arthur also handles national and some small international sales, primarily to restaurants. However, most of their wine is sold direct to consumers.

Seavey’s first commercial vintage was released in 1990 a year after they renovated the stone dairy barn into a working winery. Today this stone building is the centerpiece of the property and is where tastings are hosted.

Since 2011, Jim Duane has been their day to day Winemaker. He’s worked at Robert Mondavi and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. It should also be noted that Philippe Melka Winemaker/Consultant has been with Seavey since 1995...one of Philippe’s two initial wine making jobs in the Napa Valley were with Seavey and Lail Vineyards.

Seavy makes about 3,200 cases annually depending on what mother nature brings. They make around two hundred cases of Chardonnay, slightly more Merlot and the rest is of the production is comprised of their Caravina and Estate Cabernets.
— 7 years ago

Daniel Martinez Cardenas

9.2

It's been a long time since I had an Ice Wine, my long wait has been compensated for with this wine. Aromas of luscious guava, passion fruit and quince paste saturate the nose with same delicious taste effect on the palate.
My new Canadian followers(cyber-friends) I think will approve this wonderful example of Ice Wine. Thanks Canada! 🇨🇦 — 9 years ago

Ashley Crage

9.5

Very nice and not too sweet! — 10 years ago

John Lenart

9.4

Absolutely deliscious Cab blend. Amazing value. — 11 years ago