PAST WINES

2019 ROSÉ, MT. VEEDER - NAPA VALLEY

This is “True” Rose, no saignee, (saignee means “to bleed” in French which in winemaking translates to bleeding a portion of the pink juice from the grape must at an early stage of making red wine then fermenting separately) Grenache and Mourvedre from Mt. Veeder harvested early in the year to preserve the acidity and having lower sugar, the grapes were hand harvested and lightly crushed then allowed to soak for 48 hours to extract color and aromas. Gently pressed into an older oak barrel to undergoing a natural fermentation, the wine was bottled after 6 months of ageing. This wine is bright and fresh and light bodied with a clean finish. Bright pink color with pomegranate and white grapefruit nuance but nothing heavy. At 10.5% alcohol the Mt. Veeder Rose is the quintessential hot weather wine served chilled, at the pool or behind a hot grill in the back yard. I think it was Galileo who said, “Wine is sunlight, held together with water” which seems like the perfect way to explore what this Summer has to offer!

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2018 GRENACHE BLANC, MT. VEEDER - NAPA VALLEY

NATURAL WINE

Here we have a real fun and interesting wine. Natural wine has gotten a lot of press in the last few years and so I thought we should try to make one, how hard could it be letting nature do all the work! Organically farmed Grenache Blanc from Mt. Veeder was hand-harvested, destemmed then whole berries transferred to a clay amphora vessel for fermentation. Nothing was added to the wine. Fermentation was finished in 3 weeks after which the must was gently pressed and transferred by gravity to an older oak barrel for 14 months aging. Bottled unfined and unfiltered with no additions of anything this wine is very cloudy due to the lees in suspension, stand the bottle up overnight to allow to fall clear or drink it hazy. The wine has a distinctive character with a darker but not really orange color. On the nose white vermouth, slightly nutty aroma followed by a medium weight wine expressing tree ripened apricots and oranges.

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2018 MARSANNE, MT. VEEDER - NAPA VALLEY

Marsanne harvested from Mt. Veeder, whole cluster pressed and into a 1200 liter concrete Amphora after settling 24 hours before being racked. Natural fermentation proceeded slowly; malolactic fermentation was not performed. This wine aged for 10 months on its lees in the amphora until bottling. The wine is a pure expression of the varietal with salty sea air and ripe pears on the nose. In the glass a viscous, straw colored wine offers equal parts acid and richness, honey and orange blossoms.

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2019 CHENIN BLANC, OLD VINE - NAPA VALLEY

This was a great find, 60-year-old Chenin Blanc vines planted in Pope Valley! Chenin blanc in Napa used to be widely planted several decades ago but a miniscule 14 acres remain. We hand harvested and whole cluster pressed the juice into a small 75-gallon concrete vessel and one neutral French oak barrel where natural fermentation occurred in cool cellar temperatures. No malolactic was performed so the wine retains its natural bright acidity. Aged on its lees with light stirring during 9 months in concrete, there is a nice balance of acid and fruit in this Chenin Blanc. Delicate minerality on the nose and on the palate, baked apples, ripe pears and just a hint of ginger.

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2020 GAMAY NOIR ROSÉ, EL DORADO

This wine is from Gamay Noir grapes grown just below 3,000 ft in elevation from the Barsotti Ranch, long time farmers near Placerville. The decomposing granite soil there is similar to what exists in Beaujolais region of France where Gamay Noir is dominant.

The results from 2020 are a small amount of Rose from those Gamay grapes, a nice Summer wine with tremendous floral aroma, juicy fruit and balanced acidity.

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2018 TBD Wines Carménère, Oak Knoll Napa Valley

This is my 4th vintage of Carménère with the first two vintages under the Capiaux label and a big hit. I planted it in my back yard, a little over an acre about 10 years ago. Here in Oak Knoll, the soil is known as Pleasanton Loam with very little rock…more in the silt loam category.

A dark, deep garnet wine with aroma of ripe plum, smoked meats and characteristic dried ancho chili pepper. Flavors of cranberry and black currant, white pepper and some spiciness which is a beloved characteristic of this varietal. Fine tannins, smooth finish.

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2019 COUNOISE, MT VEEDER - NAPA VALLEY

An obscure grape historically connected Rhone Valley wines, specifically with Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Counoise (koon wahz’) is used to balance the intense spice, strong tannins and high alcohol of Syrah. On its own it can deliver good fruit, acidity and aromatics.

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