Neville Blech
Hans Herzog Marlborough http://www.winebehindthelabel.org/vineyards/hans-herzog-marlborough/?&owa_medium=feed&owa_sid=
Hunter’s Marlborough http://www.winebehindthelabel.org/vineyards/hunters-marlborough/?&owa_medium=feed&owa_sid=
An impressive small range of Rhône styles is made at Craig Jaffurs climate-controlled winery in Santa Barbara. The first vintage here was 1994 and production is still small and quality high. Syrah is the main focus and is sourced from the Ampelos, Thompson, Larner, Kimsey, Verna’s and Bien Nacido…
A good small range of well-priced wines is made at this mid-sized property with 121 ha (300 acres) under vine across four vineyards. The wines are all marked by clean and pure varietal fruit and the reds are quite firm and structured. The fresh and crisp Sauvignon Blanc is part barrel-fermented and…
Swiss-born financier Hansjoerg Wyss purchased 364 ha (900 acres) of the 3,000 acre Halter Ranch in 2000. Some of the property had already been planted to vines but Hansjoerg has now taken that holding to 101 ha (250 acres). Much of his wish to do so is the aspect and site of the vineyards, which are…
Small to medium-sized and long established operation. The Gainey Home Ranch of some 36 ha (91 acres) is planted to the red Bordeaux varieties in addition to Sauvignon Blanc. The property itself is much larger at 730 ha (1,800 acres) and the family also farm cattle. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah…
While there have been a plethora of new names emerging in these increasingly fashionable small wine regions, the Foxen boys, as they are affectionately known, have been around it seems for an eternity. They have consistently and continue to produce some of the best and most characterful wines from…
An exciting and recently established producer providing juicy, exuberant Rhône style reds and Pinot Noir as well as rosé and both a Roussanne and a couple of Chardonnays. The Brandts worked in the Rhône and Burgundy before deciding to establish their own operation in 2003, which is warehouse based.…
This family-owned winery was established in 1981 and can be found just inland of the Pacific with estate vineyards planted at altitude and enjoying the benefit of considerable day to night temperature variations providing ripe, well balanced grapes with great acidity. The mountain limestone based…
Two powerful and supple Cabernets are produced at Silver Oak Cellars. The estate was established as a partnership between Ray Duncan and the late Justin Meyer, the original winemaker. Daniel Baron took over those reins and continues to produce wines of substance and quality, particularly in the case…
Grand Spring Mountain District property that has been up and down over the years but is now producing wines of real style that are representative of the area. The estate vineyards total some 92 ha (225 acres) and owner Jacqui Safra has also acquired three adjoining properties, bringing the total…
This was the first California winery to produce quality sparkling wines from the classic varieties of Champagne: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. All three grapes are used across the range. A straightforward non-vintage blend, Mirabelle, is vinified from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and is a…
Small Spring Mountain property 600m (2,000ft) above sea level producing a top-class Cabernet Sauvignon. The 6 ha (15 acres) of vineyards are also planted to a little Merlot and Cabernet Franc to add complexity. Yields are kept tightly in check and cover crops not only protect the mountain soils but…
Salvador Renteria arrived in the Napa Valley from Mexico in 1962 and soon became one of the most sought after vineyard managers in the area. In 1987, he started his own vineyard management company which now looks after more than 1,500 prime acres. In 1993, he handed over control to his son, Oscar,…
David Ramey has had a vast winemaking influence on the style of a number of leading producers, among them CHALK HILL and RUDD ESTATE, where he is still the general manager. Under his own Ramey label he produces remarkably fine Chardonnay, impressive for its finesse, intensity and sheer quality as…
This MONDAVI/Rothschild (Mouton-Rothschild) joint venture was conceived in 1978, the first vintage being in 1979 and remains independent from Constellation in its vineyard management and administration. At the time, super-premium Napa styles of Cabernet had not really materialised and Opus One was…
This well-established Napa operation is part of the expanding portfolio of Moët Hennessy premium wineries around the world which include the likes of CLOUDY BAY. The wines here have always been impressive and reasonably priced. At the lower level the decent Red Label Chardonnay is joined now by a…
Luna focuses on Italian varietals and a number of reds. John KONGSGAARD provided the early winemaking direction. Both the regular Pinot Grigio and Sangiovese are good value for money, while the pricier Canto is a proprietary Super-Tuscan-style blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with…
Impressive new small operation producing Rhône style reds from the Napa Valley and now Pinot Noir from the Kendric Vineyard in Marin County. Chef turned winemaker Gary Miller gained experience with La Jota , Martinelli and Robert Biale before establishing his own Napa based operation. Grenache from…
This is Kendall-Jackson’s super-premium label, producing distinctive Cabernet Sauvignons that showcase the best single-vineyard characteristics of prime mountain-grown fruit. The wines are vinified in the same facility as the flagship CARDINALE, which by contrast is a blend of sources. While…
If like me you’re a motor racing fan you’ll be delighted by the quality of the powerful, dense Cabernetbased reds hand-crafted by former Indy 500 star Randy Lewis and his wife Debbie. This small, bespoke range is marked by rich fruit and in the top reds power and structure. They are quintessential…
This winery dates back to the end of the 19th century and has always focused on estate wines. The Bordeaux red varieties are the main focus of the operation but new blocks of Sauvignon Blanc and Tocai Friulano have been established and released, the Sauvignon Blanc under the Lillie brand and…
Wine broker Sean Larkin’s small Yountville operation produces a very fine Cabernet Franc-based red, one of the best of this style in the region as well as now a Cabernet Sauvignon also and the first vintage was only 1999. Very small amounts are exported and it would be well worth joining the mailing…
Throughout the 1980s and 90s La Jota has been a source of some of the most powerful and impressive examples produced in the Howell Mountain AVA. The winery has become famed for massive dense and tannic reds that need considerable cellaring but develop very well in bottle. Ownership has passed from…
Although this is a newly established small-scale winery, owner Robin Daniel Lail’s family history goes back to the beginnings of viticulture in Napa itself. One of her ancestors, Gustav Niebaum, established the original Inglenook winery in 1879. Five wines are now made here. The J Daniel Cuvée is a…
This property high up on Mount Veeder was purchased by Lagier and Meredith in 1986. Remote and seemingly far away from the humdrum of Napa Valley grape growing, the redwood forests nearby are home to mountain lions and coyotes. Originally one wine was made here, a richly textured, very pure and…
Pat Kuleto began establishing vineyards on this eastern Napa ranch in 1993 and there are now plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Sangiovese, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay, all now released varietally, as well as some Muscat. A Rosato is also produced from Sangiovese. Production is…
Founded in 1997 by British expatriates, this is an impressive source of Cabernet that should be worth following. The Butlers’ 17 ha (42 acre) Spring Mountain property is the source of the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is rich and full, with impressive concentration and a fine cedary…
Is this serious or is it humorous? Wine drinking poker players should be thrilled with this new conception of marketing wine. The brainchild of Joel Templin and Katie Jain, already at the forefront of graphic design, have teamed up with Craig MacLean, one time winemaker for Cain Cellars and Spring…
Mike Grgich made his reputation at CHATEAU MONTELENA before going on to establish a formidable track record under his own label. All the wines are now coming solely from estate fruit and the vineyards are farmed biodynamically. Chardonnay is big, full and typically opulent in a classic ripe and…
Small estate in the Chiles Valley on the eastern side of the Napa Valley whose main focus is Zinfandel. Consultancy input from Helen Turley of MARCASSIN has provided the stimulus for well-crafted ripe and supple examples of the variety. All of the wines are now made from estate grown fruit. The…
Small property producing an impressive meritage red from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with a little Merlot and Cabernet Franc as well as a Cabernet Sauvignon blended with a little Petit Verdot. Second label Facets has much more Merlot, the last vintage currently available is 2008. A tiny amount of…
Small boutique winery producing Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from the Money Ranch Vineyard, as well as a red blend Aprile Super Oakville. This is dominated by Sangiovese with a little Cabernet Sauvignon to add grip. The wine is in a light, elegant style but offers impressive intensity at this price…
Impressive small producer with a range sourced from a number of committed grape growers. The style is very much one of minimal intervention and the wines are impressive without being overdone. Cabernet comes from a number of Napa sources. Zinfandel is always stylish and vibrant: the Napasourced…
John Williams established Frogs Leap with Larry Turley, who went on to make superstar Zins at TURLEY CELLARS. The emphasis of the marketing here is on fun, reflected in the labelling. Pull a cork and you’ll see what I mean. However, the wine is serious and can be very impressive. The style is for…
The Taylors purchased their 6.5 ha (16 acre) vineyard in 1998. Cabernet Sauvignon was originally planted in 1984 and the vineyard brought up to its present size in 1992. They have now decided to retire and 2008 was the last vintage. Production was tiny and for Napa the wine reasonably priced. It is…
David Del Dotto is a relatively new name in the Napa Valley wine community but he has one of the most unconventional approaches to selling and marketing his wines. Only a proportion of his resources go into producing the wines rated below which he sells in general distribution as well as at the…
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Darioush Khaledi established this winery in 1997 but the results are already impressive. He owns 13 ha (33 acres) of vineyards around the site of the spectacular new winery building, along with 10 ha (25 acres) in the Mount Veeder and Atlas Peak AVAs. Most of the wines are released under the…
Medium-sized operation producing sizeable volumes of Chardonnay. Fruit is sourced from its own vineyards, including a property in Carneros, as well as from elsewhere; the recently acquired Brandlin Ranch on Mount Veeder also now provides further resources of estate fruit for vintages to come and a…
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