February 2014 Newsletter

FEBRUARY 2014 NEWSLETTER Napa Valley: A wonderland of terroir Napa Valley is widely regarded as one of the finest grape-growing regions in the world. To our mind, what really stands it apart is its incredible diversity. Despite its diminutive size - just 30 miles long and 5 miles wide at its widest point - the region benefits from an incredible mix of climates, soils and elevations, allowing an array of grapes to thrive here - most prominently Cabernet Sauvignon, but also Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel and Cabernet Franc. Napa Valley makes just 5% of the wine of Bordeaux by volume, and 25% of that of Burgundy, but has just as many varietals. (For more information on the climate and geology of Napa Valley and its sub-appellations (AVAs), please see our report Exploring Napa Valley: A Wonderland of Terroir.) Vineyards range in elevation from sea level to a whopping 2,600 ft One of Napa Valley's main differentiators is its topography. Nestled between two relatively high mountain ranges, vineyards range in elevation from sea level to a whopping 2,600 ft. By contrast, in Bordeaux the vast majority of vineyards are planted close to sea level and in Burgundy most vineyards sit on hillsides between 800-1,000 ft. This diversity in elevation, along with a variety of microclimates and soils, provides for incredible "range" even within single varietals. February's offering focuses on four of Napa Valley's finest hillside boutique wineries With this in mind, February's wine bond offering showcases four of Napa Valley's finest hillside boutique wineries, stretching all the way from Howell Mountain in the north, through Pritchard Hill and down to Stags Leap. The four wines - all Napa Valley hillside Cabernet Sauvignon or Bordeaux Blends - deftly express the range we talk about. Bonds are from the glorious 2012 vintage Each wine bond comprises three 750 ml bottles of 2012 vintage wine, with delivery taking place between March and November 2015. Napa Valley's 2012 vintage continues to receive rave reviews from critics. Click here to see Wine Advocate's World Vintage Chart for a comparative view. Bond Details Here are the details of February’s offering: Continuum Estate 2012 (Pritchard Hill). Continuum is the realization of Tim Mondavi's dream of creating a terroir-driven, estate-based wine. The estate is situated high on Pritchard Hill, 1,300- 1,600 ft above sea level to the east of St Helena. The region is often referred to as "the best grape-growing region in Napa Valley you’ve probably never heard of" and is home to some of America's most profound Cabernet-based blends. The terrain is austere and the soils are thin, red and rocky, such that the vines have to search deep for water and nutrients, producing small, intensely-flavored berries with thick skins. Continuum Estate is farmed in 37 one to two acre blocks, planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Each block is aged separately, from which Tim crafts a final Bordeaux Blend. The results are spectacular. Continuum is a ripe, textured, aromatic wine that has been met with great critical acclaim and top-notch scores. Robert Parker calls it a "tour de force in winemaking". Lindstrom 2012 (Stags Leap AVA). Lindstrom is adjacent to the revered vineyards of Joseph Phelps and Shafer in Stags Leap. The region is known for its unique soils, which vary from loam and clay sediments from the Napa River to volcanic mountain erosion. The wines of the region are known for their lush, velvety feel. When the Lindstroms first discovered their property here, it was unplanted due to its steep hillsides and complex topography. The family became convinced that with enough patience and artistry, the land could produce Cabernet of rare quality. Today the property is a tapestry of 11 gem-sized vineyard blocks hand farmed using earth friendly techniques. The diversity of soil, sun exposure, clonal selection and rootstock yields a complex palette of fruit from which renowned winemaker, Celia Welch, crafts a final blend. Lindstrom 100% Cabinet Sauvignon is a rich, full-bodied, opulent wine. With only four acres under vine, production runs at just 200-600 cases. Outpost 2012 (Howell Mountain AVA) is an exciting new addition to E-Cep's wine bond program. The brand was established in 1998 with the vision of producing wines that are the living, breathing embodiment of their magically rugged origins, in the uppermost regions of Howell Mountain, nearly 2,200 ft above the Napa Valley floor. The terrain here is rugged and only a fraction is under vine. The soils are volcanic and porous, producing vines of low vigor. Outpost's towering pines and ocean-driven weather combine to produce fruit of bursting intensity and richness. The winemaker is Thomas Rivers Brown. Outpost's flagship True Vineyard 100% Cabernet Sauvignon draws from a nine-acre estate vineyard planted in pure bedrock. The 2012 vintage earned a barrel rating of (97-100) from Robert Parker who opined that it "may be the finest wine made at Outpost in their 14-year history." Outpost True Vineyard wine - of which just 200-450 cases are produced annually - literally flies out of the door on release, yet the owners remain committed to keeping it affordably priced. Ovid Napa Valley 2012 (Pritchard Hill): Ovid is situated high on Pritchard Hill, with stunning views of Lake Hennessey and the valley floor 1,400 feet below. The owners originally bought the land to build a home for their family but, inspired by the extraordinary quality of the wines produced by their neighbors, felt duty-bound to see what the land could do. In 2000, acclaimed vineyard manager David Abreu planted Ovid's stunning, organically-farmed 15-acre ridge-top estate vineyard, dividing it into one acre blocks, each with a different rootstock and clone combination of Bordeaux varietals. Each year, winemaker Austin Peterson chooses the best barrels from each block to achieve an ideal blend that is rich, intense and layered and conveys an eloquent and nuanced sense of place. Yields are tiny, so annual production is just 400-600 cases. Ovid produced its first vintage in 2005 and this brand has been on the ascendancy ever since to emerge as one of Napa Valley's most sought after boutique brands. .

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