The hang time in 2009 allowed the fruit to eloquently achieve ripeness, which produced a wine of many layers and complexities. Vibrant golden hue. Scents of Meyer lemon, Asian pear, tropical notes and spices of the East soar from the glass when swirled. These notes glide effortlessly over a rich and silky mid palate that is buttressed by ample natural acidity. The interaction between richness and verve is the hallmark of this wine and it displays that incredibly with the interplay of Crème Brule and ripe citrus notes and a long, lingering finish. 200 cases produced. 

Our Merlot block is perfectly placed in a special corner of the Deux Chevaux Vineyard, allowing it the hang time needed to produce a prodigious style of Merlot from Napa Valley. Deep garnet to the core, this wine immediately shows high levels of extraction. Scents of violets, herbs, ripe red fruits and crushed river stone disperse over a blanket of pure and plush Merlot fruit. Here, tannins more reminiscent of a Cabernet Sauvignon marry flavors of chocolate-covered cherries and barrel spice onto a finish that echoes all of the above components as a result of natural winemaking and acidity. This wine is so pure and lush that keeping your hands off it now will not be easy, but you will be rewarded for your patience if you age it for 4 to 6 years.

In 2009, we were able to achieve perfect ripeness, which resulted in a classically styled Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark purple to the rim, this wine looks like it means business from the moment you pour it into the glass. Immediately, you are overwhelmed by aromas of crème de cassis, sweet cherries, coco powder and bay leaf. Perfectly ripened fruit glides effortlessly across the mid-pallet with a firm but lush acidic profile. Boysenberry, dark plum and a mineraltytypical for this vineyard site are intermixed with exotic oak overtones of clove and mulled spice. Lovely, dusty tannins frame the ripeness into a long finish accented with blue fruits and oak so well integrated that it must be tasted to be believed.

With another year of vine age, this wine turned out exactly as we envisioned it would—a Bordeaux blend that marries power and grace. Translucent, dark ruby color to the rim, with scents of briary red and dark fruits, bay leaf, tobacco and allspice. The mid-palate complexity is from the multiple clones across the varietals that we planted on this northern section of the Deux Chevaux Vineyard property. With its moderate percentage of Merlot and Cabernet Franc in the blend, the tannins are nicely integrated for such a young wine, but it will take some time to shed the structure from the dominate amount of Cabernet Sauvignon. This definitely plays out on the finish, where silky smooth undertones of fruit and mineraltiyinterplay with firm but ripe tannins wrapped up in a package that will gain further complexities for up to 10 years. A stunning wine.

The 2009 vintage blessed us with some incredible fruit to work with to make this unique blend of Pettit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Immediately, your eyes are taken by its dark purple color and clarity. The aromatics consist of dark fruits, lead pencil, forest floor and mulled cherries. True to its Petit Verdot roots, lush and floral fruit components fold into a mid palate that echoes the above notes and introduces spice box and minerality. The complex finish combines nuances from all three varietals, bringing this wine to its feet with supple tannins; rich, spice-laden fruit; and perfect acidity. A few years of bottle age will further integrate this wine, and a long decant time will allow it to open up for near-term consumption. This wine will show its best with 3 to 4 years of age and will age gracefully for up to 10 years or more. 

While tasting through the 2009 barrels, we came up with the inspiration to create a wine reminiscent of a right bank Bordeaux. This Cabernet Franc dominated blend has a dark crimson color to the core and is accompanied by aromas of red and black currants, forest floor, spring flowers and scorched earth. The mouth-feel of this wine coupled with subtle restraint take you away, and if the mid-pallet grabbed you, then watch out for the finish. Concentrated dark and red fruits from across the spectrum married with chocolate, Asian spice and graham cracker come together to form a finish framed by caressing tannins and an A+ finish. Already appealing due to its supple profile, it will put on more weight and integrate with bottle age and age gracefully for years to come. To catch in its prime, try it within 3 to 5 years.

2008 was the last of the drought years in Napa Valley, and our Oakville Estate provided the perfect terroir to produce this prodigious Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark purple to the rim, scents of dark fruits, minerals and dark chocolate emanate from the glass. The palate is a rush of pure cassis-like liquor combined with intriguing notes of saddle leather and anise that are enveloped within mouthful of perfectly ripened tannins that are large scale but totally integrated. Like previous vintages of this wine, the mid palate and finish have an explosion of silky smooth blue and dark fruits and spice notes that flow off into a mile-long finish. Because this is the largest scaled wine from our Estate, we have ever produced, a decant is needed to enjoy it in its youth and look for it to age effortlessly for 10 -20 years.