2023, the year after we acquired Houyi Estate, marks our first full vintage learning from and expressing Cabernet Franc grown on this extraordinary property. Inspired by the varietal’s potential on Pritchard Hill—and by our own history with Cabernet Franc through Falstaff and To Kalon—we chose to bottle this wine separately to showcase its unique character. Surrounded by neighbors celebrated for their Cabernet Franc expressions (Dalla Valle, Chappellet, Ovid), Houyi’s vines continue that lineage of excellence. Heavenly Questions is a small-production wine and one we intend to continue as a focused, pure expression of this Estate.
Heavenly Questions
Heavenly Questions
Ethereal yet impossible to ignore
Appellation
Napa Valley (Pritchard Hill)
Vineyard/Blocks
22 Acres
Dominant Varietal
Cabernet Franc
Sense of Place
Mountain site above the fog line with southeastern exposure; 1,300 feet elevation; fractured volcanic rock
Distinguishing Characteristics
A balance between focus and generosity; a thread of freshness runs through, underscoring the purity and elegance of Cabernet Franc
Production Volume
200 cases
First Vintage
2023
2.5 acres of Cabernet Franc (planted in 2004 & 2023).
Section of Taher Jaoui, Nine Suns. Oil, acrylic, ink and charcoal on canvas.
Eight barrels of Cabernet Franc produced at Houyi Estate.
Dalla Valle, Maya 1997. Eastern hillsides near Houyi Estate, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
Tian Wen: A Chinese Book of Origins.
