Flora Springs - March 2010

TRL/Staff/Wine - 8/7/6

We haven't been back to Flora Springs in a while and we were interested in some of the changes they've made. A couple of years ago, there was a storm that blew through Napa Valley and knocked down an age-old tree on their property that destroyed their tasting room. Since then, they've built a new, modern tasting room.

Right on the front street of California Highway 128, the western road through valley, lined with countless heritages of wineries, Flora Springs is merely steps off the curb. Having said that, the strongest impression the new tasting room left me with was a sense of being completely out-of-place. It's second only to Opus One as the most anachronistic tasting room in the valley. It's very modern, with flowing lines and colors, like the 70s collided with southwestern architecture.

The staff was pleasant enough, but I recall a conversation where we knew more about his wine than he did.

2008 Soliloquey (Sauvignon Blanc) : $20/$22

2007 Sangiovese : $20/$20
Light-bodied and subtle flavor. Sorry, subtle isn't right. The palate was "light" and left me wanting. This doesn't begin to meet my expectations in a Sangiovese, even one from California.

2007 Napa Valley Merlot: $24/--
This wine neither smelled, nor tasted like a Merlot. After having had some vintage Merlot at Jessup, a standard had been set...and this didn't begin to meet it.

2007 Poggio del Papa "Red Wine" : $38/--
There was no nose on this wine; at most there were notes of very light cherry. Unimpressive on the palate, as well.

2006 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon :$36/$33
The most interesting thing about this Cab was its cooperage. It was aged in 20% American Oak, 70% French Oak, and 10% Hunarian Oak. Next wine, please...

2006 Trilogy :$65/$36-$40 (more indecision)
In the past, this wine as really been enjoyable. In fact, I recently "rescued" a magnum of 1990 Trilogy that was quite enjoyable. This vintage, however, while also enjoyable, wasn't living up to its price. In fairness, our palates may have been fried from Jessup, still, but the body and color still could compel me to $65/bttl.