Oakville

This is likely our easiest drive of this roughly two week journey through Napa Valley. To get from the heart of Oak Knoll to the center of Oakville, we simply head north and a bit west on Highway 29 for a few miles. The top on the convertible is down, there's a breeze in our hair, the sun is shining, and we're just far enough south that the traffic that we would encounter as we get close to downtown Saint Helena is nowhere to be seen.

The town of Oakville, and therefore the American Viticultural Area is named for the oak groves that once formed the bulk of the town. Initially, during days when ore was being transported from Saint Helena down to San Pablo Bay, there was the Oakville train stop. It was not one of the busy ones. In fact, writings that remain suggest that most locals found no particular purpose to it. 

A notable exception was a man known as H.W. Crabb. Why H.W.? Well, there are disputes over what his name really was. Some records say Henry Walker, some say Hamilton Walker, and some say Hiram Walker. In his late 30s, Crville abb bought some land close to the Napa River intending to plant grapes. He had spent a bit more money than he perhaps should have, so he sold some of it to the local government so that they had a place to build what became the Oakville Train Station. 

While he tried to cultivate better grapes for wine, his initial Oakville productions gave him nothing but table grapes and raisins. Then, on a plot of land that he jusdged of unusual beauty, Crabb planted Cabernet Sauviignon. So enamored by everything he saw from the vineyard, Crabb named the vineyard "the call of beauty," or in Greek To-Kalon. The name stuck and it remains today, as perhaps the most storied vineyard in North America and afficionados of California Cabernet might say, the world. Likely, as high a percentage of wine produced from To-Kalon grapes uniformly receives ratings in excess of 95 points from revuewers all over the world than any other vineyard. It's the centerpiece of Oakville, but not the only vineyard in Oakville producing outstanding grapes.

Everything about the area is nearly perfect for growing Bordeaux varietals and in particular, Cabernet Sauvignon. The gravelly, loamy soil has excellent drainage. Days during growing season are consistently very warm with usually no rain at all during growing season, but early mornings and early evenings are cooled just a bit by the fog coming off San Pablo Bay. The terrain is rolling enough that most grapes are planted on gentle slopes.

Wines from Oakville tend to be remarkably complex -- layered with aromas and flavors that evolve as the wines moves from front to back of the palate. Characteristic notes include mint, herbs, black currants, anise, graphite, and a bit of spice. 

All of this so far has been good news. You want the other news? Bring your checkbook. Oakville wines are generally speaking the most expensive in the valley. They are the home of many of the California Ultra-Luxury Table (CULT) wines that are of limited production and available by allocation only.