X Winery

This article was originally published in the Benicia Herald on February 22, 2009.

Amicus Cellars and X Winery were born out of a unique idea.

Reed Renaudin created the business in 2000, turning the idea he proposed in his MBA thesis paper into a reality. The plan, as Renaudin envisioned it, was to create wines on caliber with the greats already on the market at a price drastically lower than the rest.

The result, I discovered, is for the most part, on target. The most expensive wine I sampled during my visit to the tasting room was marked at $40 per bottle, although the other six wines I sampled that day ranged from $13.99 - $24.99 each.

The bottle that went home with me was the 2007 X ES Sauvignon Blanc, made of grapes out of Lake County. The resulting wine is heavy on the melon on the nose and adds flavors of tropical fruit to the mix when it hits the palate. True to the promises of the company, the wine was not only Napa quality, but also very affordable at just $13.99 per bottle.

Other highlights included the 2006 Red X, a blend consisting of 60 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 22 percent Syrah, 12 percent Zinfandel and six percent Petite Sirah. The smell of toasted marshmallow floated out of my glass, leading me to find the wine a little sweet and a little sour in my mouth. The finish was smooth and left a lingering flavor of mocha. This table blend goes for $14.99 a bottle.

The 2005 X Paso Robles Petite Sirah, at the $24.99 end of the price scale, was big and surprising. The aroma was all berries and spice while the flavor was grounded with earthy tones and a chewy quality that made the wine more complex than I expected from the varietal.

If you decide to check out the winery's downtown digs, stop and pick up the Taste card. As I explained in last week's column, the $20 card gets you into 13 local tasting rooms with only a 10 cent obligation to taste. X Winery is a part of the promotion.

Also, call ahead, as the tasting room doesn't keep regular hours and prefers you make an appointment. You can call them at 204-9522 to set up a visit at their shop, 1405 Second Street in Napa. Check them out online at www.xwinery.com or www.amicuscellars.com.