The 2007 growing season was very smooth and consistent. Napa Valley had average rainfall in spring and the weather was largely steady through the early part of the growing season. Flowering was good, producing loose clusters of average size, and we noted that yields in the lower elevation vineyards were below-average while hillside vineyards had above-average yields. In early September there was a fairly intense heat spike, but the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in the warmest sites were not yet soft so there was minimal damage. The vast majority of our fruit was harvested in excellent condition with amazingly ripe phenolics between October 1st and 14th, thereby avoiding the 10 days of moderate to heavy rain that hit Napa Valley in the second half of October.
2007 “The Bard” Proprietary Red Wine - Napa Valley AVA. Blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc. This year our Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend comes mostly from Yountville and consists of Clones 7 and 191. Aged in a diverse blend of both Bordeaux- and Burgundy-style new cooperage from such producers as Darnajou, Taransaud, Ermitage, and Remond. 260 cases
Winemaker notes: This is our most supple and lush Bard to date. On full display are aromas of black cherry, cocoa, anise, Asian spice, vanilla and toasted marshmallows. The mouthfeel is very full and unctuous, giving the wine a fantastic drinkability and hedonistic appeal. The finish is very smooth and supple with a lingering sweetness.
2007 Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - St. Helena AVA. Blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot from the same vineyard. Planted in an extremely gravelly site on the west side of Hwy 29 and harvested at less than 2 tons per acre. Clone 6. Aged in 100% new French oak barrels from Taransaud. 210 cases
Winemaker notes: If we have a true Vin de Terroir, this is it. This Cabernet smells like where it from: a gravel pit. A vibrant, stony note intermingles with black and red fruits, cherry and sweet plums on the nose. The mouthfeel is full and rich with big tannins fully buffered by the sweetness of fully ripe fruit. The finish ends with a blast, giving the sense that this wine will age will for many years.
2007 “The Falstaff” Proprietary Red Wine - Napa Valley AVA. Blend of 66% Cabernet Franc, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot. After experimenting with various vineyard sites for 5 years, we have finally found the right source for our first release of a Cabernet Franc-based blend. Organically-farmed and meticulously cared for, this vineyard is planted on silty loam soils in a warm micro-climate with huge diurnal temperature swings. Aged in 100% new French oak barrels including Darnajou, Ermitage and Francois Freres. 360 cases
Winemaker notes: Cocoa powder, vanilla, Asian spice and black raspberry frame the nose on our first Falstaff. The power and intensity are in full display with tons of flavor and mid-palate body that are still unfolding. The finish is big and long with a focus and resonance on the palate, avoiding any of the green notes that are sometimes associated with Cabernet Franc. This wine has a strong character and leaves a big impression.
2007 Farella Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - Coombsville AVA. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Clones 4 and 8. Comprised of rocky volcanic loam and ash, this cooler climate vineyard imparts intense minerality with a perfect balance of acidity. Our 5th vintage of this wine was aged in 100% new French oak barrels including Taransaud, Darnajou and Francois Freres. 540 cases
Winemaker notes: The fifth vintage of this wine once again reveals a great deal of character and is akin to a darker-fruited version of the 2005 vintage bottling. Look for a black/purple color, dense aromatics of blue fruits, chocolate, exotic spice and real sense of place. The palate is lithe and silky with a slightly less full body (though still full-bodied) than our other Cabernets but with perhaps more intensity. As always, this will repay those who choose to lay it down for a few years.
2007 “The Tempest” Proprietary Red Wine - Napa Valley AVA. Blend of 81% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. This year our Merlot-based blend comes almost entirely from one vineyard Northwest of Yountville planted on alluvial soils, with the balance coming from the east side of Yountville. The Petit Verdot comes from Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard in St. Helena. Aged in 100% new French oak barrels including Darnajou and Taransaud. 290 cases
Winemaker notes: Boisterous aromas of Damson plum, black cherry, vanilla and a hint of white pepper lead to a rich, dense, tightly packed mid-palate. There is ample richness and full tannin buffered by a certain fatness, but the overall impression is one of focus and power, extending through the long finish. This wine will last for a very long time, providing more complexity over the next 6-8 years and beyond.
2007 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - Oakville AVA. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Clone 4 and 337. From a well-regarded Oakville vineyard west of Hwy 29 and harvested a 2-3 tons per acre. Aged in 100% new French oak barrels from Taransaud. 160 cases
Winemaker notes: Opening with a burst of ripe blue and red fruits, this wine has a very pure expression. The complexity of aromas is very unique, leading to our most full and lush To Kalon to date. The flavors are all classic Napa Cabernet with black cherry, blackberry, anise, chocolate, white pepper and a slight violet note bursting from the glass. A refined palate with ultra-ripe tannins leads to an explosive finish.
