|
Elegant, supple wine with currant flavours, subtle tobacco and spice notes, full-bodied, complete, finishing lush and complex
|
|
Teresa Norton and Tom Paine came to Napa Valley in 1989 to retire – a dream that was quickly replaced by another when they learned their estate was prime Cabernet Sauvignon territory. In Napa Valley terms, Vineyard 29 is young as vines were only planted in 1989. Vines are found on an eastern facing slope at the base of the Mayacamas mountain range, so grapes receive its most direct sunlight during the early morning hours, when the heat is less intense. Afternoon sunlight falls indirectly on the vineyard, allowing for a slightly cooler afternoon exposure. This pattern of exposure is ideal, as grapes can ripen and tannins have a good structure. Gentle slopes on the vineyard ensure perfect drainage, creating the perfect amount of vine stress to yield highly concentrated fruit.
In 2000, Chuck and Anne McMinn, good friends of the Paines, took over ownership of the vineyard. The first release of 250 cases in 1992, and subsequent wines were made at the highly regarded Grace Family winery by Gary Galleron (1992 - 1994) and cult winemaker Heidi Barrett (1995 - 1998) of Dalla Vale and Screaming Eagle fame. The wines received critical acclaim. In 1999, Philippe Melka became winemaker.
The state-of-the-art winery and caves were completed in 2003. The processing of grapes is ‘gravity-fed’ – the fermentation process begins with whole berries, which according to the winery, “is a higher quality way to make wine as it forces the yeast to work through the skins, thereby extracting more colors and flavors over a longer fermentation process”. Other wineries use pumps that “agitate and aerate the grapes, which is not desirable. It can also cut or abrade the seeds, which produces harsh flavors."
Finished wines are matured in barrels, located in 13,000 sq. ft. of caves.
Only 490 cases of the 1994 vintage were made..
|
