Simply The Best Of The Best

For Part I and II on this subject, visit houstonlifestyles.com, and click on Wine, Food And Travel.

When oenophiles think of the highest-scoring wines on the planet, many think of Lafite, Latour, Romanée-Conti, etc. There are two wineries in Northern California — one in Sonoma County and one in Napa County — that best them all!

Here are the scores from Parker for the reds from these two wineries:

VÉRITÉ — SONOMA

La Muse: 2012 – 97; 2013 – 100; 2014 – 100

La Joie: 2012 – 100; 2013 – 100; 2014 – 97+

Le Décir: 2012 – 100; 2013 – 99; 2014 – 98

LOKOYA — NAPA

Howell Mountain: 2012 – 99; 2013 – 100; 2014 – 99

Spring Mountain: 2012 – 98; 2013 – 98; 2014 – 98

Diamond Mountain: 2012 – 96; 2013 – 96+; 2014 – 96

Mount Veeder: 2012 – 100; 2013 – 100; 2014 – 99

There are no other wineries in the world that produce three or more wines, all of which obtain Parker scores like these for three consecutive years — ever! Tasting fees are high, but what would one expect at over $300 a bottle for each! It’s worth it! Reservations here, and at all the wineries in this article, are required. While at it, ask what options are available and at what times. Weekend hours are many times different, and some wineries only have tastings at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., etc.

For Vérité, call 707-433-9000. For Lokoya, call Bradley Wasserman, estate manager, 707-967-2626.

NAPA VALLEY

Another winery at or near the top of my list is Hall Rutherford (Hall St. Helena is open to the public and fabulous also). For those who want extreme privacy and incredibly gorgeous surroundings; only 15 visitors a day are allowed. Expensive? Like Vérité and Lokoya, not for what you get. They even have estate packages from $500 up per person. Call 707-967-2626.

Next would be Opus One. While viewing the spectacular winery and its surroundings driving up to Opus One, you might think it has an alternative use as a giant landing site for a spaceship. This began as a joint venture between the late Robert Mondavi and the late Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild in Bordeaux. Fas­cinating place with great wines. Limited options and limited times, but don’t miss out! Call 707- 944-9442.

Venge Winery has a great view from Napa’s western hills, plus one of the best winemakers on the planet, Kirk Venge. Kirk has now surpassed his famous father Nils — who received the first Parker 100 for a Napa Valley wine — with not only his Venge wines, but also Macauley and Hunnicut, where he is consulting winemaker. At all three, 95, 96, 97 and even 98 Parker scores abound! There are incredible magnums, jeroboams, methuzalehs, salmanazers and even balthazars for Venge Wine Guild members only. Call 707-942-9100.

Cade is part of Plumpjack’s portfolio. It sits high in Napa’s eastern hills with excellent views. Cade is the first organically-farmed LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certified estate winery in Napa Valley. Call 707-965-2746.

There are five more fabulous wineries to visit that are special in that many wineries are only open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. These are all open until 5 p.m.: Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, winning Cabernet at the famous 1976 Paris Tasting; Stag’s Leap Winery (my favorites being Merlot and Petite Sirah); Silver Oak Napa; Revana (owned by Dr. Madaiah Revana from Houston); and Spott­swoode, which is only a few blocks from downtown St. Helena.

And finally, after almost everything else is closed, Stewart Cellars in Yountville, which is owned by Houstonian Michael Stewart, is open until 6.

My favorites from a recent tasting there:

Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2016 $30

Chardonnay Sonoma Mountain 2015 $37

Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2014 $70

NOMAD Napa Valley 2014, from the iconic Beckstoffer vineyard and made by heralded winemaker Paul Hobbs, $175.

And at Stewart Cellars, no appointment is necessary.