In the eastern reaches of our estate vineyard near Soda Canyon, a small creek has formed a lovely alluvial deposit over the course of millennia. It is in this part of the property where we planted white grapes, as they are perfectly matched to these soils. The grapes are harvested when they are high in acidity but relatively low in potential alcohol. The juice is pressed whole-cluster and fermented in a combination of new, neutral, and stainless steel barrels. This technique, as well as aging on the lees for several months, gives the wine a highly expressive character while adding weight and length.

Our newest vintage of Sauvignon Blanc is an explosion of citrus aromas and flavors from the get-go. A blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Musquée, the wine is full of energy, crisp acidity, and bright fruit and floral aromas. 2023 was a very interesting growing season. Coming on the heels of several drought years, this vintage started with near record-breaking rainfall in the winter and a cool spring, which led to a relatively late start to the growing season. Once they got going, the vines were able to grow strong canopies and developed quite a generous crop. The summer continued in this cool trajectory, meaning that the grapes developed slowly, retained a remarkable amount of natural acidity, and hung on the vine well into the fall. We were blessed with an autumn full of sunshine, and even though we harvested later than usual, the grapes arrived at the winery in beautiful condition. The 2023 Caryn Renae, just bottled, shows fragrant notes of grapefruit, Meyer lemon, kumquat, and verbena. Indeed, the citrus descriptors just keep coming. On the palate, the acid rides high on the flavor profile, with a subtle saline note, like ocean air on a summer day. This wine will surely bring happiness to the table, or to the poolside, or wherever it is enjoyed.

86% Cabernet Sauvignon 12% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc (ELLMAN Estate Vineyard)

The 2020 Brothers Blend is dark, dense and aromatic—a reflection of the growing season that was in and of itself intense and dramatic. On the nose, we find dark, ripe blackberry and blueberry notes, along with nutmeg, sassafras, fresh-cut cedar, and hints of camphor. The wine is tightly wound on the palate, but with time in the glass, the tannins soften as it becomes plush and generous. The fruit flavors carry forward, with the black fruit flavors riding alongside the notes of baking spices and incense. Even with the highly structured tannins, there is a richness and purity that makes the wine accessible now, and it is clear that the wine will continue to open up over years in the bottle. 

100% Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Ellman Estate)

Focusing solely on the Ellman Estate vineyard, the perennial elegance of Jemma reigns supreme in the 2019 vintage. With a profound, dense ruby hue, our ethereal 2019 Jemma performs a playful dance of sweet and savory movements. Bounteous aromatics of freshly harvested fruits and flowers from a basket of sweet violets to just-plucked blackberries from the vine comingle with layered notes of bouquet garni, espresso crema, and transportive salumi like lardo di colonnata and finocchina. Effusive on the palate, it whisks you away for a walk in the woods with heady fragrance of freshly upturned earth, garriqgue and bramble fruits, all from the comfort and warmth of your perch. Muscular and weighty, the dark fruit character is precisely framed with concentrated yet chocolatey tannins, and a lingering, suffusive finish. Aptly paired with a classic Entrecôte Marchand de Vin, or if you are feeling adventuresome, a savory wild mushroom Wellington.

95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot

The 2020 Jemma successfully captures the best of the vintage, which indeed was a warm California summer with plenty of heat and sunshine. The wine is bold, juicy, and intensely flavored with a silky, but structured texture. The color is black-purple, as is the flavor profile, with the driving forces being notes of blackberry, cassis, and dark chocolate. Just below the surface, however, come the complexities brought by the Cabernet Franc: licorice, cardamom, and dried flowers. This is a serious wine that will age for many years to come, but its rounded tannins make it perfectly enjoyable in its youth. For those who can wait, dividends will be paid in terms of added aromatic layers and continued polishing of the tannins. Those who don’t have the patience to wait will be surprised and delighted by the purity of the fruit and the generosity the wine shows now. 

100% Cabernet Sauvignon (Ellman Estate Vineyard)

The wine is a reflection of a warm Napa Valley summer. The fruit is dark and rich, the tannins are bold but rounded, and the wine itself has a depth and density that we look for on our estate vineyard. Our vineyard delivered fruit with the normal purity and intensity that translates into classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Cassis, blueberry, and raspberry tones are the highlight, along with notes of dark chocolate, mocha, licorice, and vanilla bean. The 2020 vintage of The Estate is a wine for aging. After 19 months in barrel, and nearly a year in bottle, it is still dense and powerful, but at the same time balanced and nuanced.