Elena N.
Yelp
When: Saturday, February 26th, 2022
Time: 1pm
Party of: 6
Appointment made via: Buena Vista Wine Club Coordinator and Tock
BOOKED:
The Crystal Cellar - $50
Inspired by the traditional candlelit cellars of France, the inimitable Crystal Cellar boasts stainless steel walls, a mirrored bar, and a collection of historical decanters. Here in a working cellar, beneath remarkable Baccarat chandeliers, guests discover another dimension of wine enjoyment while sampling Raymond's signature Cabernet Sauvignons.
I'm a member at Buena Vista Winery. When planning a wine day on the Napa side, I decided to use my sister winery perks and try a tasting at Raymond. Our party size kept changing, but I ultimately made my final booking thru my coordinator 8 days prior. (They were very sweet and understanding with everything, so thank you!) After booking, I was sent a confirmation via Tock. Benefits at sister wineries are the same: 4 complimentary tastings and 20% off everything else.
THE CRYSTAL EXPERIENCE:
2019 JCB Unity Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon: 542 cases produced (Bottle: $75 regular, $60 member)
2017 St Helena Cabernet Sauvignon: 200 cases produced (Bottle: $100 regular, $80 member)
2017 Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon: 100 cases produced (Bottle: $110 regular, $88 member)
2018 Generations Cabernet Sauvignon: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon (Bottle: $145 regular, $116 member)
I enjoyed the last two wines the most, but I was very interested in their 2017 Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon (Bottle: $110 regular, $88 member). I was hoping to try it, but unfortunately, they didn't have one open, so I wasn't able to. Not wanting to spent $88 on something I wasn't sure I would like, I ended up passing. No one in my party ended up buying any wine as we were all interested in wines not on the tasting list and they didn't have anything else open. (Weird as I thought they offered other tastings with different wines, but I didn't question it.) I'm not sure how pricing works for members tasting wise, but I was charged $36.94 per person for the two additional tastings. I tipped about $60 on top, so with tax, etc, our total ended up being $140 for the 6 of us.
So now on to the space. The cellar has a club like feel with chandeliers, paintings, mannequins (in a burlesque like vibe), steel barrels, etc. But OMG! It was sooo cold! Like uncomfortable cold. My gf and I were the first ones to show up and we walked into our appointment without jackets. Promptly after being seated, she ran out to the car to get our jackets. I was wishing I had hand warmers on me to keep myself warmer. Other than that, the vibe is fun. Very modern with mirrored tables, etc. And the music wasn't too loud, so you can still have a convo.
The Crystal Experience is definitely unique, but they should warn you about the temperature. Make sure to dress very warmly. You will be tasting in what feels like a wine fridge!