Tasting Notes
The 1983 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is remembered as a surprisingly successful wine from a challenging vintage, showing sweet cherry fruit, cedar, tobacco, vanilla, and anise, with balanced tannins and a long finish when well-stored, though bottles today are highly variable depending on format and provenance.
About Winery
Joseph Phelps Vineyards is a family-owned and operated wine estate with vineyards and wineries in Napa Valley and on the western Sonoma Coast. The winery was founded in 1973 by Joseph Phelps, a successful construction executive and entrepreneur whose early interest in wine led him to establish vineyards on a 670-acre former cattle ranch in Napa Valley. Over the next 42 years Joe became one of the most respected figures in the California wine industry, building Joseph Phelps Vineyards into a critically-acclaimed winery internationally known for its iconic wines and unwavering commitment to quality.
Joe’s son, Bill Phelps, joined the family business in 1998 after a successful career in law, and as Executive Chairman now oversees Joseph Phelps Vineyards with a continued dedication to excellence.
Family owns and farms 425 acres of vines in Napa Valley on nine estate vineyards in St. Helena, Rutherford, Oakville, Stags Leap District, Oak Knoll District, South Napa and Carneros, as well as 100 acres over two vineyards on the western Sonoma Coast. Strategically chosen over many decades, each vineyard has its own personality and brings a different characteristic to our wines. Our commitment to an estate-based model is our way of ensuring consistency and the highest quality we can possibly achieve. Our estate vineyards, paired with select long-term grower relationships, give our winemaking teams unparalleled depth and diversity when it comes to producing Joseph Phelps wines.
Tasting Notes
The 1989 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is considered a solid but now mature wine, originally praised for its cedar, tobacco, vanilla, cassis, and red currant notes, though bottles today may vary significantly depending on storage, with some showing elegance and others past their prime.
About Winery
Joseph Phelps Vineyards is a family-owned and operated wine estate with vineyards and wineries in Napa Valley and on the western Sonoma Coast. The winery was founded in 1973 by Joseph Phelps, a successful construction executive and entrepreneur whose early interest in wine led him to establish vineyards on a 670-acre former cattle ranch in Napa Valley. Over the next 42 years Joe became one of the most respected figures in the California wine industry, building Joseph Phelps Vineyards into a critically-acclaimed winery internationally known for its iconic wines and unwavering commitment to quality.
Joe’s son, Bill Phelps, joined the family business in 1998 after a successful career in law, and as Executive Chairman now oversees Joseph Phelps Vineyards with a continued dedication to excellence.
Family owns and farms 425 acres of vines in Napa Valley on nine estate vineyards in St. Helena, Rutherford, Oakville, Stags Leap District, Oak Knoll District, South Napa and Carneros, as well as 100 acres over two vineyards on the western Sonoma Coast. Strategically chosen over many decades, each vineyard has its own personality and brings a different characteristic to our wines. Our commitment to an estate-based model is our way of ensuring consistency and the highest quality we can possibly achieve. Our estate vineyards, paired with select long-term grower relationships, give our winemaking teams unparalleled depth and diversity when it comes to producing Joseph Phelps wines.
1995 Dominus Estate Wine |Buy Premium & Vintage at 1976WINEHOURS
The 1995 Dominus offers a deep ruby hue, vibrant raspberry aromas, supple tannins, and a long, elegant finish—showcasing classic Napa Valley structure and balance.
Experience the 1995 Dominus—an iconic Napa Valley Cabernet with intense ruby color, rich raspberry and blackberry notes, silky tannins, and a graceful, lingering finish. A true classic built for aging
Winemaker Notes
From a Sonoma Coast vineyard, the 2005 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard reveals extremely uplifted aromatics displaying hints of wet stones, white currants, flowers, peaches, and subtle tropical fruits. Full-bodied, intense, and tightly-knit, it should drink well for 7-8 years. Kistler Vineyards, undeniably one of the world's finest winemaking estates, is run with passionate dedication to detail and quality by Steve Kistler and Mark Bixler. It is wines like these that keep an old critic like me inspired and energized.
About Winery
Kistler Vineyards is a small winery in the Russian River Valley specializing in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Founded in 1978 on the notion that compelling wines of site can and should be made in California. Kistler has been working with their own heritage selection of Chardonnay since the mid-1980s and is known the world over as a single clone Chardonnay house. They plant one heritage selection of Chardonnay across fifteen vineyards, giving rise to eleven vineyard designate Chardonnays. Similarly, Kistler produces four Pinot Noirs; each of these wines is crafted from the two small-clustered, low-yielding clones that were imported from a Grand Cru vineyard in Burgundy, which they began propagating over 20 years ago. Geoff Labitzke, MW, is the National Director of Sales for Kistler Vineyards and will be our guide as we explore five distinct bottlings of Kistler’s highly sought-after wines.
Winemaker Notes
The 2007 Blankiet Estate Rive Droite Merlot is a powerful, opulent, and complex wine from Napa Valley featuring dark fruit flavors like plum, blackberry tart, and black currant, complemented by notes of coffee bean, cocoa, kirsch, and savory undertones such as dried herbs and tobacco. It boasts a plush, full-bodied texture with a firm but grainy structure and excellent freshness and length, offering a harmonious blend of fruit and savory elements that is approachable now but will continue to evolve in the bottle for many years.
About Winery
Paradise Hills is farmed organically and is Napa Green Certified.
Greek and Roman farmers knew that better wines are made from vines that are planted on hillside vineyards in depleted soil. This type of farming is best to control the grapevine’s relentless propensity in growing canes and leaves instead of fruit. Farming these sites require an enormous amount of labor, but the reward is a crop full of intensely flavored berries.
Pruning is done during the winter, while the plant is dormant.
There are two basic systems of pruning: Cane pruning or Spur pruning.
We use the later as it is better suited for the French hybrids varieties we are growing. The most fruitful buds are situated near the base of the canes, so all wood is cut back to short spurs with two buds and the rest of the wood is removed.
Pruning is done during the winter, while the plant is dormant.
There are two basic systems of pruning: Cane pruning or Spur pruning.
We use the later as it is better suited for the French hybrids varieties we are growing. The most fruitful buds are situated near the base of the canes, so all wood is cut back to short spurs with two buds and the rest of the wood is removed.
To further enhance wine concentration and complexity, the number of clusters a vine is allowed to ripen is restricted. During the growing season buds, flowers, leaves and clusters are carefully thinned out, allowing each vine to produce a metered amount of fruit in accordance to its age, terroir and specific weather conditions of the year.
Water needs are regularly monitored during high heat by checking the moisture level in leaves to prevent the shutdown of photosynthesis. By mid-summer, the diminishing hours of sunlight signals to the vines that the end of the season is near and to spend all their energy in ripening the clusters of berries.
Winemaker Notes
Rigorous selection is employed at every stage of this wine's development. Many components, though singularly attractive and possessing lavish attributes, are not utilized in the final blends for Bond. This provides us the opportunity to create a second wine. This blend, offered under the Matriarch label, will always be evocative of its pedigree and distinct in its hillside character.
About Winery
Sourced from select hillside estates, the Cabernet Sauvignon wines of BOND vividly demonstrate the range of Napa Valley's finest terroirs. From the more than eighty vineyards we have worked with over the past quarter century, we have slowly and vigilantly selected five sites. BOND became our covenant and shared commitment to produce only the best expression of the land. By way of this valuable experience, we had the opportunity to identify select properties that we felt had the potential to define the ‘Grand Crus’ of Napa Valley. These small hillside Cabernet vineyards, ranging in size from 7 to 11 acres, became the basis for the wines of BOND.
Winemaker Notes
A great wine in the making, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (just under 10,000 cases produced) possesses a fragrant bouquet of sweet black currants, crushed rocks, earth and background oak. Full-bodied and dense, with Montelena's typical power, tannin and reserved nature, this is a big, rich, formidably endowed red that requires 4-5 years of cellaring. That in itself is atypical of this exuberant, flamboyant vintage. Given this cuvee’s past history, this 2007 should age for 30+ years.
About Winery
Château Montelena, founded in 1882 by San Francisco entrepreneur Alfred L. Tubbs in Calistoga, Napa Valley, became world-famous after its Chardonnay won the 1976 “Judgment of Paris” tasting, where California wines triumphed over top French competitors. Originally built as a grand stone château with vineyards planted on rugged land, the estate went through periods of decline before being revitalized in the 1970s under Jim Barrett and winemaker Miljenko “Mike” Grgich. That historic victory put Napa Valley on the global wine map, and today Château Montelena continues to produce acclaimed Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon while preserving its legacy as a pioneer of California’s rise in fine wine.
Winemaker Notes
Dominus 2008 is a wine of great purity and definition, with distinct berry aromas and a supple yet precise palate. Deep blackberry and dark plums complement fine mineral notes. This wine is intensely perfumed, velvety and ethereal. Decant the wine prior to serving, to allow it to develop its full potential. This is especially important when serving young Dominus wines.
About Winery
The vineyards of Dominus Estate have connections to the original history of the Napa Valley as they date back to the mid 1850’s, or even earlier, when it was first cultivated. At the time, it was known as the Napanook vineyard.
In the late 1960s, while attending the University of California at Davis, Christian Moueix fell in love with the Napa Valley and its wines. Son of Jean-Pierre Moueix, the famed wine merchant and producer from Libourne, France, Moueix returned home in 1970 to manage the family vineyards, including Chateaux Petrus, La Fleur-Petrus, Trotanoy in Pomerol and Magdelaine in St. Emilion.
His love of Napa Valley lingered and in 1981, he discovered the historic Napanook vineyard, a 124-acre site west of Yountville that had been the source of fruit for some of the finest Napa Valley wines of the 1940s and 1950s.
In 1982, Moueix entered into a partnership with Robin Lail and Marcia Smith, the daughters of John Daniels who owned the vineyard. In 1995, he became the sole owner of the estate and chose the name Dominus, or “Lord of the Estate” in Latin to underscore his longstanding commitment to stewardship of the land.
One of the most respected wine producers in the world, Christian Moueix is on a personal quest for perfection in grape growing and winemaking. It is a journey that began in Bordeaux and continues today at Dominus Estate.
2008 | V 97
The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Backus is a beautifully delineated wine endowed with tons of personality and sheer class. The wine comes alive in the glass, with crushed rose petals, dark raspberry jam, licorice and spices. There is an exotic element to the fruit that is highly appealing. Today the tannins are quite firm, suggesting the wine needs at least a few more years in the cellar.
About Winery
Joseph Phelps Vineyards is a family-owned and operated wine estate with vineyards and wineries in Napa Valley and on the western Sonoma Coast. The winery was founded in 1973 by Joseph Phelps, a successful construction executive and entrepreneur whose early interest in wine led him to establish vineyards on a 670-acre former cattle ranch in Napa Valley. Over the next 42 years Joe became one of the most respected figures in the California wine industry, building Joseph Phelps Vineyards into a critically-acclaimed winery internationally known for its iconic wines and unwavering commitment to quality.
Joe’s son, Bill Phelps, joined the family business in 1998 after a successful career in law, and as Executive Chairman now oversees Joseph Phelps Vineyards with a continued dedication to excellence.
Family owns and farms 425 acres of vines in Napa Valley on nine estate vineyards in St. Helena, Rutherford, Oakville, Stags Leap District, Oak Knoll District, South Napa and Carneros, as well as 100 acres over two vineyards on the western Sonoma Coast. Strategically chosen over many decades, each vineyard has its own personality and brings a different characteristic to our wines. Our commitment to an estate-based model is our way of ensuring consistency and the highest quality we can possibly achieve. Our estate vineyards, paired with select long-term grower relationships, give our winemaking teams unparalleled depth and diversity when it comes to producing Joseph Phelps wines.
Winemaker Notes
The 2009 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon presents aromas of ripe blackberry, sweet pastry and espresso, accented by hints of lavender, cedar and graphite. The palate is concentrated and dense with flavors of dark fruit and spice notes. A rich texture and mouth-coating tannins linger in the elegant finish.
About Winery
No winery or vineyard more thoroughly embodies the timeless appeal and seductive flavor of Napa Valley than Beringer Vineyards, Napa's benchmark producer since the establishment of the vineyard in 1876.
Now in its third century of crafting classic wines from Napa's finest appellations and vineyards, Beringer today is guided by the inspired partnership of celebrated Winemaster Emeritus Ed Sbragia and Winemaker Laurie Hook. Together, they craft Napa Valley wines that speak eloquently of the rich heritage of the Beringer Vineyard, while offering cutting-edge quality and contemporary elegance. The exquisite wines crafted at the Beringer Vineyards display a single minded dedication and pursuit of excellence instilled by its founder, Jacob Beringer.
Winemaker Notes
Bright ruby-red. Penetrating aromas of black cherry, dried flowers and brown spices. Not as silky as the 2004 through 2007 vintages but boasts noteworthy refinement and savory intensity, with fresh, harmonious acidity giving the wine good focus and finesse. Excellent depth here if not quite the flavor development of vintages like '07 and '04. Still, this conveys a thickness of texture and a faintly exotic quality and finishes with very suave tannins. The summer was rather cool but steady, and there was enough warmth in September to ensure ripe tannins without burning off needed acidity, noted Bo Barrett. A fairly elegantly styled Montelena Estate.
About Winery
Château Montelena, founded in 1882 by San Francisco entrepreneur Alfred L. Tubbs in Calistoga, Napa Valley, became world-famous after its Chardonnay won the 1976 “Judgment of Paris” tasting, where California wines triumphed over top French competitors. Originally built as a grand stone château with vineyards planted on rugged land, the estate went through periods of decline before being revitalized in the 1970s under Jim Barrett and winemaker Miljenko “Mike” Grgich. That historic victory put Napa Valley on the global wine map, and today Château Montelena continues to produce acclaimed Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon while preserving its legacy as a pioneer of California’s rise in fine wine.
Winemaker Notes
The Dominus 2009 exemplifies the finest qualities of Cabernet Sauvignon from an ideal vintage. The nose, at once powerful yetrestrained, is dense and filled with pure dark berry fruit and hints of sandalwood. On the palate is a harmonious blend of fresh plumand focused minerality with tannins that are firm, round and elegant. Spherical in quality, this wine is complete from start to finish.A sublime vintage.
About Winery
The vineyards of Dominus Estate have connections to the original history of the Napa Valley as they date back to the mid 1850’s, or even earlier, when it was first cultivated. At the time, it was known as the Napanook vineyard.
In the late 1960s, while attending the University of California at Davis, Christian Moueix fell in love with the Napa Valley and its wines. Son of Jean-Pierre Moueix, the famed wine merchant and producer from Libourne, France, Moueix returned home in 1970 to manage the family vineyards, including Chateaux Petrus, La Fleur-Petrus, Trotanoy in Pomerol and Magdelaine in St. Emilion.
His love of Napa Valley lingered and in 1981, he discovered the historic Napanook vineyard, a 124-acre site west of Yountville that had been the source of fruit for some of the finest Napa Valley wines of the 1940s and 1950s.
In 1982, Moueix entered into a partnership with Robin Lail and Marcia Smith, the daughters of John Daniels who owned the vineyard. In 1995, he became the sole owner of the estate and chose the name Dominus, or “Lord of the Estate” in Latin to underscore his longstanding commitment to stewardship of the land.
One of the most respected wine producers in the world, Christian Moueix is on a personal quest for perfection in grape growing and winemaking. It is a journey that began in Bordeaux and continues today at Dominus Estate.
Winemaker Notes
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 The Matriarch rocks up with forthright notions of crushed blackcurrants, black cherries and mulberries plus hints of crushed rocks, dried herbs, iron ore and black soil plus a touch of Ceylon tea. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals impressive intensity with a firm texture of grainy tannins and bags of freshness, finishing with an herbal lift.
About Winery
Sourced from select hillside estates, the Cabernet Sauvignon wines of BOND vividly demonstrate the range of Napa Valley's finest terroirs. From the more than eighty vineyards we have worked with over the past quarter century, we have slowly and vigilantly selected five sites. BOND became our covenant and shared commitment to produce only the best expression of the land. By way of this valuable experience, we had the opportunity to identify select properties that we felt had the potential to define the ‘Grand Crus’ of Napa Valley. These small hillside Cabernet vineyards, ranging in size from 7 to 11 acres, became the basis for the wines of BOND.
Winemaker Notes
The 2012 Cameron boasts bright fruit with notes of cherry, blueberry and blackberry shining through. The opulent fruit aromatic is matched with hints of forest floor, autumn leaves and dandelion. Viscous and ripe on the pallet, this wine is expansive from the start with a fruit flavors of tart cherry, ripe plum and black figs. Showcasing young appeal from a brilliant vintage, this wine is irresistible and sure to show well from the start.
About Winery
Founded in 1973 by Fred and Juelle Fisher, the winery is nestled at the 1500-foot elevation on the western face of the Mayacamas Mountains between the Napa and Sonoma Valleys and home to their Wedding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and Whitney's Vineyard Chardonnay. Their Coach Insignia Cabernet, Lamb Vineyard Cabernet and RCF Vineyard Merlot come from their estate on the Silverado Trail in the Napa Valley. It is from these two sites that the winery strives to fulfill their mission of producing world class Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Winemaker Notes
The 2012 Fisher Wedding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is characterized by its opaque purple color, rich aromas of blackberry liqueur, licorice, and truffle, with hints of charcoal and camphor. Winemakers note its impressive concentration, multilayered complexity, and full-bodied structure, with a long, smooth finish. The wine is described as balanced, voluptuous, and seamless, with the oak integration being a particular highlight.
About Winery
Founded in 1973 by Fred and Juelle Fisher, the winery is nestled at the 1500-foot elevation on the western face of the Mayacamas Mountains between the Napa and Sonoma Valleys and home to their Wedding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and Whitney's Vineyard Chardonnay. Their Coach Insignia Cabernet, Lamb Vineyard Cabernet and RCF Vineyard Merlot come from their estate on the Silverado Trail in the Napa Valley. It is from these two sites that the winery strives to fulfill their mission of producing world class Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Winemaker Notes
With great complexity, the Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon expresses aromas of black fruit, Bing cherry, dark chocolate, red raspberry, green olive, tobacco, all integrated with the spicy sweetness of oak, cedar, connamon, clove and a hint of black pepper. The body is very full with a soft entry, coupled with dark cherry/berry flavors that develop with great depth.
About Winery
Freemark Abbey is a historic Napa Valley winery, founded in 1886 by Josephine Tychson, one of the region's first female vintners. Known for its single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons and classic Chardonnay, the winery is home to a unique, hand-built stone building and an extensive wine library. Freemark Abbey's history includes being one of Napa's first wineries to produce single-vineyard wines and participating in the 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting.
Winemaker Notes
This blend of the vineyard’s 12 prize clones yields a wine of complexity and completeness, the culmination of a far-reaching journey. This wine possesses a beautiful ruby color with aspects of garnet. Vibrant aromas of red cherry, strawberry and raspberry mingle with layers of crushed violet and rose petal, fresh mint and forest floor. New French oak adds even greater complexity with hints of vanilla bean and toasted bread. The entry of the wine is supple and generous and balances with its firm structure. A harmonious blend of the site’s diverse clones, a panoply of red fruits unfurls on the palate with an emergence of cranberry, pomegranate and raspberry, framed by silky tannins and lifted by bright acidity and mineral undertones. This is a restrained, concentrated wine that opens magically with each sip. The complexity of floral notes and wild red berries lingers on the palate with a lasting finish.
About Winery
Wayfarer is the manifestation of a remarkable place, masterful winemaking, and the drive to go to extremes to create something truly exceptional.
After nearly 30 years as an acclaimed Napa Valley vintner, Jayson Pahlmeyer became increasingly entranced by the wines of Burgundy. “Every oenophile eventually gravitates to the wines of Burgundy,” he says. In the early 1990s, Jayson began seeking out the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards in the world.
A close friend, legendary French wine importer Martine Saunier, had located two parcels for sale in Burgundy – Clos de la Roche, a Grand Cru Pinot Noir vineyard in Côte de Nuits Grand Cru, and Corton Vergennes, a Grand Cru Chardonnay vineyard in Corton. His winemaker, Helen Turley, was to make the wine with the hands-on assistance of the renowned Michel Niellon at his Chassagne-Montrachet winery. However, just after the papers were signed, the deal was nullified by an obscure Burgundian real estate clause that permitted last-minute alternative offers.
Though these iconic vineyards faded from his dreams, Jayson knew that, eventually, the perfect site would present itself. He just didn’t realize it would be six years later in the remote hills of the Sonoma Coast at a small farm called Wayfarer.
Winemaker Notes
The 2013 Matriarch, which may well be the finest Matriarch made to date, could easily stand on its own as a single-vineyard offering. Made from the odds and ends of the single-vineyard wines, nevertheless this is pretty great wine, and I joked with the winemaking team that maybe their selection process was too draconian. Dense purple, with notes of mulberry, blackberry, chocolate, cocoa and espresso, the wine is dense, full-bodied, opulent, and a total hedonistic turn-on.
About Winery
Sourced from select hillside estates, the Cabernet Sauvignon wines of BOND vividly demonstrate the range of Napa Valley's finest terroirs. From the more than eighty vineyards we have worked with over the past quarter century, we have slowly and vigilantly selected five sites. BOND became our covenant and shared commitment to produce only the best expression of the land. By way of this valuable experience, we had the opportunity to identify select properties that we felt had the potential to define the ‘Grand Crus’ of Napa Valley. These small hillside Cabernet vineyards, ranging in size from 7 to 11 acres, became the basis for the wines of BOND.
Winemaker Notes
To celebrate the 30th vintage of Dominus as well as an exceptional year for Napa Valley, the 2013 label dons a special portrait of Christian Moueix by William Kentridge. Kentridge is a South African artist internationally known for his prints, drawings, animations and more recently, stage design for opera.
About Winery
The vineyards of Dominus Estate have connections to the original history of the Napa Valley as they date back to the mid 1850’s, or even earlier, when it was first cultivated. At the time, it was known as the Napanook vineyard.
In the late 1960s, while attending the University of California at Davis, Christian Moueix fell in love with the Napa Valley and its wines. Son of Jean-Pierre Moueix, the famed wine merchant and producer from Libourne, France, Moueix returned home in 1970 to manage the family vineyards, including Chateaux Petrus, La Fleur-Petrus, Trotanoy in Pomerol and Magdelaine in St. Emilion.
His love of Napa Valley lingered and in 1981, he discovered the historic Napanook vineyard, a 124-acre site west of Yountville that had been the source of fruit for some of the finest Napa Valley wines of the 1940s and 1950s.
In 1982, Moueix entered into a partnership with Robin Lail and Marcia Smith, the daughters of John Daniels who owned the vineyard. In 1995, he became the sole owner of the estate and chose the name Dominus, or “Lord of the Estate” in Latin to underscore his longstanding commitment to stewardship of the land.
One of the most respected wine producers in the world, Christian Moueix is on a personal quest for perfection in grape growing and winemaking. It is a journey that began in Bordeaux and continues today at Dominus Estate.
2013 Heitz Martha Cabernet Sauvignon can be found 1976WINEHOURS.com. Best Grand cru selection and it is wine online store in Singapore. Explore rare, premium wines curated for collectors and enthusiasts. 1976 Wine Hours offers fine wine delivery with elegance and expertise. We distribute around the world.
Heitz Cellar, founded in 1961 by Joe and Alice Heitz, is a historic Napa Valley winery known for its pioneering role in single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon production. Joe Heitz, mentored by André Tchelistcheff, helped elevate Napa's reputation and was the first to label a wine with a single vineyard name: Martha's Vineyard. In 2018, the Heitz family sold the winery to Gaylon Lawrence, marking a new chapter for the estate.
Winemaker Notes
Deep garnet colored, the 2013 Opus One needs a little swirling before exploding with preserved black and blue fruits—blueberry compote, blackberry pie and blackcurrant cordial—giving way to notes of unsmoked cigars, new leather, beef drippings and menthol with wafts of roasted rosemary and rose oil.
About Winery
Rising gracefully from the vineyards, Opus One winery stands in subtle celebration of the land and the open space that surrounds the estate. It remains an ongoing testament to the founders’ vision of a singular wine that transcends generations.
The estate vineyards of Opus One, comprised of four parcels, sit in the western portion of the famed Oakville AVA in Napa Valley. Two parcels, totaling 100 acres, are within the renowned To Kalon Vineyard. These are complemented by the combined 70 acres of the Ballestra and River parcels, which envelop the winery. In the vineyards, hand-harvesting and other traditional approaches are taken wherever they work best. When modern techniques benefit the winegrowing process, they are researched, evaluated and integrated into practice.
2013 Palmaz Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Explore rare, premium wines curated for collectors and enthusiasts. 1976 Wine Hours offers fine wine delivery with elegance and expertise
The resulting wine exhibits exceptional concentrations both in structure and aromatics. At first glance, the nose exhibits an inviting whiff of raspberry liquor that is anchored by wet stones drying on a hot summer day. The fruit flavors are a parade of black and blue fruits that slowly transfer to sweet black tea with a gentle yet firm finish. This wine is a perfect excuse to dust off the decanter and stash a few bottles in the back of your cellar if you can resist drinking every bottle young.
Palmaz winemaking takes place in a flawlessly engineered maze of tunnels and domes carved into rock at the base of Napa’s Mount George.
The winery is built into an 18-story cavern in the flank of Mount George, providing it with not only all the benefits of gravity-flow winemaking but also the natural temperature control of a cave. By eliminating mechanical pumps from the winemaking process, gravity-flow design minimizes the turbulence that damages wines’ molecular structure. In 1881, gold rush pioneer Henry Hagan founded the Cedar Knoll Winery. His wines would go on to be served at the San Francisco Opera House and could be found on the dining room tables of San Francisco's high society. The winery was abandoned after the death of Henry Hagan and the onset of Prohibition. The Palmaz family purchased the Hagan property in the late 1990s and promptly set about crafting premium wines from their 45 distinct vineyard blocks, while also restoring the once grand estate to its former glory. The 2013 Cabernet bottling is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc aged 20 months in 89% new French oak.
2014 Cliff Lede Claret Napa Valley. The 2014 vintage was a vintner’s dream. Complex and inviting, the dark ruby colored 2014 Claret dazzles the senses with explosive aromas of warm black fig, cassis, and dark melted chocolate. The bouquet continues on with notes of crushed Rainier cherries, graphite, and blackberry. The palate begins lush and expansive on entry, then turns incredibly silky and ultrafine.
Established in 2002, Cliff Lede Vineyards encompasses sixty acres in the famed Stags Leap District. Owner Cliff Lede, Vineyard Architect David Abreu, and Winemaker Christopher Tynan have come together to form an unrivaled team, making the most of this remarkable property.
Winemaker Notes
The 2014 Paloma Merlot from Spring Mountain features a deep ruby color and a youthful nose with aromas of raspberry, red plum, currants, coffee, and anise. It offers a lush, silky mouthfeel with a solid backbone of fruit from its mountain origin, balanced by long, sweet, fine-grained tannins and a velvety finish. The 100% varietal Merlot is an age-worthy wine that would pair well with dishes like rack of lamb, boeuf bourguignon, or herb-crusted poultry.
About Winery
Paloma Vineyard was founded in 1983 by Jim and Barbara Richards, who purchased land on Napa Valley's Spring Mountain and planted Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. They initially sold their grapes but began making their own wine on-site in 2000 after building a winery. Now, their son Sheldon Richards and grandson Caston Richards carry on the family legacy of estate-grown, hands-on winemaking, with Merlot being the heart of their operation.
