Yountville, Calif. — Transition spring into summer Napa style at Goosecross, an intimate, boutique winery overlooking lovely estate vines and the Mayacamas Mountains beyond. Since all of the wines are distributed direct to consumers at the winery or via the wine club, here’s a special way to say cheers to summer. The outdoor tasting patio is sublime at family-owned Goosecross Cellars just two miles northeast of downtown — it’s a new take on old Napa Valley with a thoroughly modern vibe and warm hospitality.
From the Napa Valley selection, two delightful bottlings practically scream summer in the glass. A pretty, pale pink wine that’s 100% Pinot Noir is an easy sipper and a perfect poolside companion. Called A Rosé For Lucy, it’s made from grapes that hail from the cool climate of Carneros-Napa AVA. Sip the Goosecross Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, a crowd pleaser that pairs beautifully with crisp summer salads and fresh fruit, or chill it on ice on a warm summer’s day and head for the beach.
Carefully selecting winegrapes from all across the valley, Goosecross partners with small family farmers committed to using sustainable practices. Together with husband-and-wife owners Christi Coors Ficeli and Dave Ficeli, winemaker Bill Nancarrow purchases quality fruit that is meticulously crafted, allowing Goosecross to offer a varied selection of varietals.
Above: Winemaker Bill Nanacarrow of Goosecross Cellars. Left: Named for the owners’ daughter (who loves the color pink), pour a glass of A Rosé For Lucy. This pale and pretty rosé is 100% Pinot Noir, easy to sip and a perfect picnic or poolside companion.
Welcome the newest addition to the portfolio. NV Goosecross Napa Valley Brut is a sparkling wine of fine bubbles reminiscent of crisp green apple, Bartlett pear, and a note of lemon meringue.
Also, not to miss: The newest “micro-lot” wine in the lineup is the Goosecross O2X Black Chardonnay, displaying vibrant notes of vanilla, peaches, nectarine, apricot, and crème brûlée on the nose. There is a burst of freshness and balance on the palate, highlighted with more bright flavors of pear and honeydew melon, too. Defying conventional wisdom, Gooseross winemaker Nacarrow borrows from a Burgundian practice of intentionally hyper-oxidizing the must prior to aggressively pressing the grapes.
The resulting juice, which pours from the press in a remarkable brown-black in color, miraculously converts to a shimmering yellow-green hue during fermentation. The wine is flavorful, complex, and less susceptible to premature oxidation than more traditional Chardonnays crafted in the low- or no-oxygen style.
Reservations: Goosecross Cellars, 1119 State Line, Yountville, Napa