Davis Estates – Daniel Mangin

Calistoga winery known for wine tastings with elaborate food pairings welcomes new chef.

I stopped by Davis Estates to shoot a photo to accompany the wine reviews below and ended up with a mini-scoop when chef Eric Moulton waved from the open kitchen. Established in 2011 by Mike and Sandy Davis, the winery is known for showcasing its wines via elaborate food pairings. Moulton, most recently the opening chef at Songbird Parlour in Glen Ellen and earlier at two San Francisco restaurants of note, will likely elevate the tastings even further.

Vineyard, winery building, and part of a windmill in the foreground; mountains in the distance. — View west across the Napa Valley from the hospitality space.

New Releases from Davis Estates

2024 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc

Wisps of citrus and stone on the nose hint at this light-hued wine’s balance and subtlety. Barrel aging—primarily in stainless steel with 8% neutral French oak—tempers the acidity without sacrificing crispness.

A white and three reds from Davis Estates winery. — Sauvignon Blanc and three Bordeaux-style reds from Davis Estates.

2022 Napa Valley Zephyr Bordeaux Blend

Cabernet Sauvignon (53%) and Cabernet Franc (25%) predominate in this inky entry that explodes on impact with red- and blue-fruit flavors. Especially at this young age, it’s quite the palate-wake-up call, but overall, the tannins, sturdy yet well-integrated, impart a sense of strength with poise. Decanting the wine, which also contains 10% Merlot and 6% each Malbec and Petit Verdot, is highly suggested.

2023 Napa Valley Cabernet Franc

Captivating from first sniff through the extended finish, this energetic wine packs a tannic punch that briefly masks the underlying complexity. Grapes picked on the latish side (even for a relatively cool 2023) and aging in 60% new French oak for 22 months contribute structure and power, with the layered flavors, among them dried herbs and dark, dusky berries, further enriching the experience. Some of the grapes come from the Calistoga estate’s Block 2.

Vineyard with Cabernet Franc vines. — The Calistoga estate supplied grapes for the 2023 Cabernet Franc.

2023 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

Textbook ruby red, this mid-valley 100% Cabernet Sauvignon gem strikes all the right Rutherford-appellation notes. The tannins are fine, the dark-cherry flavors lean into ripe boysenberry and blackberry, and the overall effect is one of structure and grace.

A few days after sampling the wines above, I focused on the following three:

A rosé and two red wines from Davis Estates winery. — Rosé with aperitif potential, a Pinot with earthy aromatics, and a no-gaps Cabernet.

2025 Lily Fleur Napa Valley Rosé

My first thought on sipping this pale-salmon Rosé of Pinot Noir was what a delightful aperitif it would make. Clean, light, and vibrant, Lily Fleur falls on the peach, strawberry, and watermelon end of the rosé spectrum. The acidity is low-key, but the wine pairs well with seafood, in our case, pan-seared halibut and crab cakes.

2024 Carneros Pinot Noir

Plummy, earthy aromatics typical of Carneros Pinot Noirs signal the underlying complexity of this medium-bodied wine with harmonious tannins and acidity. The impression is of fully ripe grapes, but not overly so, with anise and brambly notes supplying additional depth.

Winemaker standing in front of oak barrels. — Winemaker Walter Leiva began working at Davis Estates in 2016. (Photo courtesy of the winery.)

2023 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

An enveloping mouthfeel with no gaps front to back distinguishes this juicy wine with fine tannins and slightly assertive acidity. Some of the grapes were harvested as late as November 11th, indicative of how slowly the 2023 growing season progressed. The late pick date also reflects the confidence of winemaker Walter Leiva and consultant Philippe Melka in leaving the fruit on the vine until it achieved full ripeness.

Plates of small bites with glasses of red wine. — The food pairings at Davis Estates are among Calistoga’s finest. (Photo courtesy of the winery.)

Tasting Experiences

Moulton’s food pairings enhance all the Davis Estates tasting experiences. One session explores the current releases, as does a second that includes a winery and cave tour. Cabernet Sauvignon is the focus of two additional tastings. The latter, showcasing the Phase V wines crafted by Philippe Melka, is geared toward collectors. The VIP Experience offers much of the above, plus a few other enticements.

Why go: Calistoga setting; food pairings; Cabernet Sauvignons and Bordeaux blends.