Napa Valley Flashcards
Beaulieu Vineyard
Georges de Latour Private Reserve (Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from BV Ranches #1 and #2; some vintages include a small amount of other Bordeaux varieties). Inaugural vintage 1936.
Vineyard Reserve Clone 4 (100% Cabernet, Rutherford AVA)
Vineyard Reserve Clone 6 (100% Cabernet, Rutherford AVA)
Brief Description of Style & Vinification Techniques
: The Georges de Latour Private Reserve today is fermented in open-top fermenters and new French oak barrels; aging occurs in 100% new French oak for approximately 2 years. The wines are released in the third year after harvest.
Chapellet
High elevation, Pritchard hill trademark.
2 wines: Pritchard Hill Vineyard (75-85% Cab), Signature (75-85%)
Chappellet Pritchard Hill Cabernet is typically harvested at ripe Brix levels(26-29°), and aged for up to 2 years in 100% new French oak, sourced from a variety of coopers and forests.
Chateau Montelena
Calistoga
Barrett took sole control in 1972, and employed a young Mike Grgich.
Judgement of Paris 1976
Fortune soured in 2004, systemic cork taint.
- Montelena Estate (95-100% Cabernet Sauvignon): Inaugural vintage 1978.
Napa Valley (formerly Calistoga Cuvée).
The Montelena Estate Cabernet has traditionally been a restrained style of moderate alcohol (13.5-14.5%), harvested between 23-26° Brix. The wine is aged for 18-22 months in barrel.
Colgin Cellars
Pritchard Hill
Tychson Hill Cabernet Sauvignon: Inaugural vintage 2000.
IX Estate Red Wine (40-60% Cabernet-based Bordeaux blend): Inaugural vintage 2002.
IX Estate Syrah: Inaugural vintage 2002.
Cariad (40-60% Cabernet-based Bordeaux blend): Inaugural vintage 2000.
Herb Lamb Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon: Inaugural vintage (discontinued after the 2007 vintage).
Brief Description of Style & Vinification Techniques
: Like other cult contemporaries, no expensive is spared in function (or form) at Cogin’s IX Estate winery. 100% new French oak. The wines are ripe, sculpted,and serious.
Continuum Estate
Tim Mondavi.
Pritchard Hill
Organically farmed
Continuum (60-75% Cabernet Sauvignon, plus Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot) Inaugural vintage 2005
(first vintage entirely estate vineyards is 2012).
Novicium: Inaugural vintage 2010.
Continuum is a vintage-dependent changing blend of Bordeaux varieties, with yields typically under 2 tons per acre. Fermentation occurs in large French oak and concrete tanks. Macerations are lengthy; typically lasting between 30-50 days. The wines generally
spend 18-20 months in French oak, and the amount of new oak has been reduced from 100% for the first three vintages to 70-80% in more recent years.
Corison
St. Helena
Cathy Corison previously at Chapellet.
In 1987 she purchased her valley floor estate property–the 8-acre Kronos Vineyard–in 1995, and built her winery on the site in 1999.
Napa Valley (100% Cabernet) 1987
Kronos Vineyard (100% Cabernet) 1999.
Cabernet is harvested at 24° Brix or less, and is vinified with both ambientand inoculated yeasts. Aging occurs in oak barrels selected from various French coopers; 50% is new wood.
2/2
The wines age in wood for 1-2 years, and in bottle for an additional year prior to release (2 years for the Kronos Cabernet). Corison’s Cabernet wines rarely surpass 13.5-14% in alcohol.
Della Valle
Oakville
Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon: Inaugural vintage 1986.
Maya: Cabernet Sauvignon with up to 50% Cabernet Franc. Approximately 500 cases produced.Inaugural vintage 1988 (not produced in 2003 or 04 due to replanting).
Collina Della Valle: Cabernet-based blend. Inaugural vintage 2007.
Brief Description of Style & Vinification Techniques
: The drill here is low yields and meticulous attention to detail. New French oak usage hovers around 75-85% for Maya; the estate Cabernet will not see more than 60% new wood.
Dana Estates
Rutherford
Helms Vineyard Rutherford;
Hershey Vineyard Howell Montain; Lotus Vineyard lower slope of Howell Montain; Crystal Springs lower slopes of Howell Montain.
Tiny quantity 200-250 cases. 1000 cases overall production.
Onda instead is a blend all four vineyards.
Style: single vineyard are fermented in a variety of vessels. 30-40 days on skins before pressing. 100% new French oak, wines spend around 2 years in barrel. Wines are ripe, opulent and polished often exceed 15% alcohol.
Diamond Creek Vineyards
Diamond Mountain District Ava
Established in 1968
- Clones from Chateau Haut Brion.
First vintage released in 1972.
3 single vineyard: Volcanic Hill, Grevelly Meadow, Red Rock Terrace. Lake Vineyard Cabernet is only produced in the best vintages. Petit Verdot added in small percentage.
Diamond Creek was the first Napa Valley to crack the $100 bottle mark retail. Winery was sold to Louis Roederer.
Styles: all wines are aged in 100% new French oak barrels for up to 22 months. The winery moved to new oak for the 2000 vintage, previously was 50%.
Dominus Estate
Yountville 1982
Christian Moueix partnership, purchased Napanook vineyard.
First vintage 1983, it was a cabernet based blend.
Second wine introduced in 1996.
The estate is dry farmed, planted to Cab Sauv, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot.
103 acres.
Style: Dominus is elegant and rarely spends more than 18 months in barrel. Traditionally 40% new French oak for Dominus and 20% Napanook. Dominus is released after 2 years.
Dunn Vineyards
Howell Mountain AVA
Former Caymus winemaker Randy Dunn purchased the property in 1978.
Dunn is an outspoken critic of rising alcohol. Key figure in the development of Howell Mountain AVA defined by elevation.
The Ava begins at 1,400 ft above the sea level. Dunn’s vineyard reach 2,100 ft.
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Style: rugged and tannic wine requiring years to soften. Whole cluster fermentation, 30 months spent in barrel prior to release. Reverse osmosis is employed to reduce alcohol.
Eisele Vineyard
Calistoga 1990
Formerly Araujo Estate
One of the most prized and oldest vineyard (planted to cab in 1964).
1991 first vintage released.
Organically and biodynamically farmed, multiple varieties are cultivated. Gravelly alluvial fan soils deposited by Simmons Creek.
Second wine: Alta Gracia.
Style: typically fermented in stainless steel and concrete, it spends around 2 years in new French oak. Maceration often last 45 days.
Harlan Estate
Oakville 1984
Founded by Bill Harlan in 1984, goal to create a California “First Growth”.
First official release was 1990 vintage introduced in 1996. Second wine “The Maiden” 1995.
Two other wineries: Bond and Promontory.
40 acres (70% Cab Sauv, 20 % Merlot, 8 % cab franc).
Style: one of the ripest, most polished and most profound cult wines.
Heitz Cellars
St. Helena 1961
Martha’s vineyard is in Oakville (34 acres). Trailside Vineyard acquired in 1984, Ink Grade 1989. The winery still produces Grignolino.
Martha’s Vineyard inaugural vintage 1966, not produced between 1993-1995; Bella Oaks 1976; Trailside Vineyard 1989; Napa Valley.
Style: fermentation in stainless steel, prevents malolactic fermentation in all Cabernet wines. Martha’s Vineyard ages in large, old american oak cask for one year and 70-100% Limousin French oak for 2.5 years.
Joseph Phelps
St. Helena 1973
Icon Insignia Bordeaux style blend, awarded Wine of the year in 2002 by Wine Spectator.
Biodynamic agriculture.
2 wineries: the other is Freestone in Sonoma Coast.
Top Wines: Insignia (Cabernet blend) 1974, Backus (100% Cab Sauv) 1977.
Style: Insignia and Backus are both ripe, polished wines. Aging 2 years in new French oak.
Mayacamas Vineyards
Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley
Established in 1889.
Opus One
Oakville 1979
Joint ventus Mondavi Baron Philippe de Rothshild
First vintage 1981. In 1981 acquired To Kalon “QBlock” from Robert Mondavi Winery, another block was purchased in 2008.
Bordeaux approach to viticulture, planting at high density, all principal Bordeaux varieties are planted.
To Kalon Q Block, To Kalon K Block, River Parcel Ranch, Ballestra Vineyard.
Style: Opus spends 18 months in barrel, French new oak and 18 months in bottle. Fined with egg white before release.
Philip Togni Vineyard
Spring Mountain District 1981
Old world sensibility, austere style.
3 wines produced.
Philip Togni Bordeaux blend 1983
Tanbark Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
Ca’ Togni
Style: the main wine is aged in 40% new Nevers French oak.
