Karl P.
Yelp
We arrived at Lewis Cellars on our last day for our last tasting. We were greeted outside and served a taste of their Sav. Blanc while we waited for the tasting to begin.
There was a total of six of us for the tasting (two other couples and us). Unfortunately, while waiting outside, it turned into a very pretentious conversation between the other couples (us remaining silent). Basically, it was a "oh, we have a reservation for the French Laundry tomorrow, do you?!" and "Well, their Pinot is only $200 a bottle." etc. While, I would love to go to French Laundry and some Noirs at that price point are great...why are we having a pissing contest right now?
Anyways, that's how the tasting started and it put us in a weird mood. The tasting did not include a tour or anything (which is fine), but included a history of Randy Lewis and his family - basically, he was a race car driver.
Onto the tasting, we tasted a few of their wines - Reserve Chardonnay, Alec's Blend, Merlot, and Reserve Cabernet. The tasting did not include their well reviewed "normal" Cabernet. My notes for all of their wines indicate a ton of oak...on everything. The Chardonnay, very oaky...buttered popcorn. Alec's Blend, overpowered oak. Merlot, too much oak. Etc. - you get my point. I enjoy oak when it's used to balance and enhance wine flavors. Unfortunately, it can be used to cover up crappy wine. I'm not saying they did that...just too much oak that it's not balanced. I do not think that I finished any of my tasting pours.
The tour ended sharply (awkwardly) when one of the couples leaving for another tasting and the host almost shooing us out. He indicated that he wasn't trying to rush us, but the damage/awkwardness was already there. We left without purchasing any wines (I do not think the other couples purchased anything either)
The tastings are $65/person, which I think are expensive. They did not indicate that the fees would be refunded with a purchase - but we were so rushed out that I didn't ask (and honestly, the wine wasn't that great, but still "free" wine is still wine).
We will not go to Lewis Cellars again.
Our 2017 Napa/Sonoma trip included Hamel Family Wines, Viader, Schramsberg, Neyers, and Lewis Cellars. Check out my reviews of the others for some comparisons.