Team C&J
This Winery Is Permanently Closed.
Winery Rating
Located at:
1373 Lincoln Ave
Calistoga, CA 94515
Wine Club Rating
Price Range For Tasting
Over the years, Knights Bridge’s approach to wine has evolved. Beginning in 2006, founding winemaker Douglas Danielak initially sourced grapes from a number of Napa Valley and Sonoma County vineyards, Andy Beckstoffer’s famous To Kalon and Dr. Crane among them.
In 2013 the winery pivoted and embraced their Sonoma County home base when they began making wine exclusively from grapes grown in Sonoma County, including those from their vineyard on the southern border of the Knights Valley AVA.
Today, the winery produces about 5,000 cases of wine a year. The priority for the brand isn’t the amount of wine they produce but the quality of wine that comes out of their new state-of-the-art winery and wine caves.
The Knights Bridge estate and winery sit on the west side of the Knights Valley AVA, which also happens to be the warmest part of Sonoma County.
Of the estate’s 100 organically farmed acres, roughly half of the vineyard blocks are planted to cabernet sauvignon, with the remaining plots planted to chardonnay, semillon, sauvignon blanc, petit verdot, cabernet franc, and merlot. The vines are planted at a moderate elevation of 300 to 900 feet, and the grapes get a good amount of moderating influence from the ocean breeze that comes over the Mayacamas mountains.
Knights Bridge is in good company up in Knights Valley. Their only neighbor is the renowned Peter Michael Winery, famously known for its cellar-worthy cabernet blends. Together, these two are the only wineries in the entire Knights Valley AVA!
When the winery’s Calistoga tasting room opened in December 2021, it was called one of the most exciting wine tasting room openings of 2021!
Knight’s Bridge has a deep portfolio of wines, including a rosé of malbec, cabernet, and merlot, a sémillon, and a red blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and cabernet franc, but their core focus is chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, and sauvignon blanc.
When we visited the Knights Bridge Calistoga tasting room this summer, we loved everything we tried. There wasn’t a bad wine in the bunch.
Here are a few of our favorites:
2020 Sauvignon Blanc, Pont de Chevalier, $40
This Sauv. Blanc was aged six months in 90% stainless steel and 10% new oak barrels. The grapes are 100% Sauvignon Blanc and grown in red clay loam and white alluvial soil. We picked up notes of pear, citrus – possibly Meyer lemon – and a touch of silky butter. 93 pts
2019 Chardonnay, $50
100% Chardonnay. Aged twelve months in 50% new French Oak. Classic chardonnay aromas of Meyer lemon and warm brioche. Slight minerality on the finish.
2019 Chardonnay from Pont de chevalier, $50
Hints of citrus on the palate with a creamy finish. This is a lovely chardonnay for $50 a bottle, we would score it a strong 92 pts.
2020 Chardonnay from West Block, $85
Winemaker Douglas Danielak calls this chardonnay “a vintage of uncommon weight, complexity, and power coupled with a clear sense of place.” We couldn’t agree more. You will pick a little bit of pear and a little bit of citrus. The wine is super clean, and it’s got a really lovely buttery finish. Wine Spectator scored this a 90, we give it 93 pts. Aged nine months in 60% new French Oak barrels.
2021 Rosé, $30
An interesting blend of malbec, cabernet, and merlot. This rosé has a refreshing acidity that is complemented by notes of watermelon rind, citrus, and Alpine strawberry. 89 pts.
2018 KB by Knights Bridge Red Blend, $50
Now, this is a good wine; We love this one. 74% Cabernet Sauvignon 25% merlot, 1% cabernet franc. If you like a great fireside wine, this is the one you want to open. can. 89 pts.
2010 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, $80
An abundance of dark fruit on the nose with this wine. Concentrated notes of prune, black currant, blackberries, and raisin. Earthy, mold, damp forest floor. Noticeable tannins were balanced by aging in 100% new French oak. This cab is just a little on the jammy side. A very enjoyable wine. 93 pts.
2007 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, $200
Okay, this wine was a real winner, and it deserves more than just a short tasting note. We will do a true review of the stunning cab once we receive the bottles we ordered because this wine is outstanding.
Immediate dark fruits, smeared with aromas of black currants. Prunes and blackberries followed by just a hint of bell pepper and white pepper and spice. This bottle is like liquid love, it’s extremely smooth. 95 pts. A true hidden gem from their library.
It is rare for us just to be wandering around and find a hidden gem. And that was the case here. We recommend you stop by if you are in downtown Calistoga. We also want to give a big shout-out to Assistant Tasting Room Manager Chrystal Fairbanks for making our experience one to remember.
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