I recently had the pleasure of teaching two wine classes featuring the Napa Valley wines and was absolutely stunned by the range of flavors, aromas, and, yes, styles that the students and I experienced. These were not the massively fruity, high-octane monsters of the Napa stereotype–they were, more often than not, nuanced, detailed bottlings that showed both power and finesse. They proved, once again, that when it comes to wine, you have to leave your preconceived notions aside and go into all of your tasting experiences with an open mind and a willingness to be surprised. I know I was.
