Chateau Potelle is an anomoly in Napa Valley -- not a big valley floor commercial venture, but a labor of love of a French couple that moved to California from their 1000-year-old family castle to prove that Napa can make great French-style wines too. This is the kind of place where the man pouring your glass is the owner or his friend, the couple next to you live next door, and if you ask for an opinion about food or wine or life you are in for quite a discussion. The wine is first rate. There is a nice picnic area as well. Beware: the drive is quite something, about 1,800 feet up on winding mountain roads.
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