"Lemon oil, white flowers and almonds are laced together in the 2013 Chardonnay, a wine that emphasizes citrus-inflected nuances. Aging on lees adds texture, but the block malo style emphasizes freshness, which results in a very nice juxtaposition of flavours and textures."
90 points, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, Dec 2014

Napanook is one of Napa's most historically significant vineyards.  Not only is this the location where George Yount first planted vines in what is now his namesake town, but this vineyard provided the backbone for what are some of the best wines ever made in Napa - the Inglenooks from the 1940s and 1950s crafted by John Daniels, former owner of the estate.  Today Napanook is the location of Dominus Estate, one of Napa's most esteemed wineries.

Napanook is historically a firm, rich wine when young, built for cellaring, but the 2011 vintage provides a wine that is heading into its prime drinking window early.  But the acidity of the vintage and the supple, mature tannins point to 15 years of excellent drinking.

"The 2011 Napanook is deep, rich and intense for the year. Plums, mocha, spices, licorice all flesh out in an inviting wine to drink now and over the next few years. The 2011 has no hard edges or greenness, but the medium-bodied structure suggests it is best enjoyed sooner rather than later. The blend is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot and 8% Cabernet Franc."

We love to find small, artisan producers and bring them to the Ontario wine market.  Red Cap is a relatively new winery that is already making waves in Napa.  This is the wine to "wow" industry insiders with.

Only 280 cases of this wine were made and the Red Cap is too small to submit their wines to the world's press but take our word (and palates) for it, this is grade A, top quality Howell Mountain Cabernet in a great vintage.

"100% Cabernet Sauvignon.  A fresh nose, super dark fruit compote.  Foresty, hints of brown sugar.  Wonderful hints of French oak.  Lots of energy, super fine tannin.  14.8%"
92 points (easily), Chris McLean, Oct 2014

Frank Altamura's winery  has quickly become one of Napa Valley's most consistent Cabernet Sauvignon producers. Farmed in the cool, fog-laden sub-appellation Wooden Valley, he works with 15 different soil types, providing Frank with a wide palette from which to blend.  The style is rich, detailed and elegant, structured to unfold slowly over decades.  In fact, the 2007 was awarded #5 Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator!

The volcanic soils of the Calistoga estate vineyard bring aromas  laced with sweet tobacco, leather, freshly chopped herbs and conifer forest. It is as always, aromatically expressive and in this vintage displays a poise that can only be described as "elegant".  This wine has a track record of dynamic ageability and the 2011 should prove so as well.

"(30% new oak): Bright ruby-red. Captivating, high-pitched aromas of cassis, licorice pastille, bitter chocolate, violet, rose petal and mocha. Juicy and tightly wound, with fresh acidity energizing the middle palate but keeping the wine's dark berry flavours restrained today. There's a lightly peppery quality that gives away the vintage, but this highly aromatic wine is a big success for the year and very well made."

Quintessa sits on 280 acres in the heart of Rutherford, 170 acres are planted to grapes but the property encompasses 26 contiguous vineyard blocks on such diverse terroir that 40 different lots are produced.  The wine is a Bordeaux varietal blend, principally Cabernet Sauvignon, but the composition changes each year to ensure the best possible Quintessa is made.  

Winemaker Charles Thomas' career includes 15 years as oenologist and assistant winemaker at Opus One, 8 years directing the winemaking and viticulture at Cardinale and 5 years at Rudd, he joined Quintessa in 2007.
 

"The 2011 Quintessa immediately opens up with seductive aromas of blackberries, fresh cassis, bell pepper, savoury herbs, tobacco and fresh cut flowers, which all join together beautifully. On the palate this shows the elegant characteristics of the cool vintage with fine, polished tannins and demonstrating wonderful finesse and balance through the finish. Although this is already impressive in many ways, I only expect it to evolve further with just a bit more time. (Best 2015-2024) "

What more could be said about Dominus that hasn't already been said?  It is one of Napa's top wine estates, owned and directed by Christain Moueix.  The winery itself is an architectural icon, built of rock-filled wire baskets which makes the winery an extension of the terroir. The Napanook vineyard itself is considered a historical landmark, one of the oldest vineyards in Napa Valley.

As one may expect, Mr. Moueix's wine making philosophies are decidedly French - impeccable vineyard work, three week fermentations, 18 months in barrel, egg white fining, no filtering.  Dominus always stands out in side-by-side tastings as noticeably "Bordelaise", as Mr. Moueix says, "this is Napa terroir, but with a Bordeaux spirit".

"Savoury herbs, menthol, smoke and licorice are some of the aromas that open up in the glass in the 2011 Dominus. This is a relatively immediate, expressive Dominus with plenty of near-term appeal. The style is open and succulent for the year, with lovely balance and poise. Crushed rose petals and dried herbs linger in the close. With time in the glass, the 2011 fleshes out nicely. In 2011 Dominus is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc."

Continuum Estate is located on the east side of Napa Valley high on Pritchard Hill, overlooking Oakville to the west. Low vigor red, rocky, volcanic and loam soils make this a truly magnificent hillside vineyard - a mix of clay loam, fractured volcanic material and immense quantities of andesite rock. This location is the perfect site to grow rich, concentrated Cabernet family fruit, and to produce a wine considered amongst the best in the world.

Currently 41 acres are in production with new vineyard development under way bringing the total to 60 acres over time. Average yield is 1.8 tons per acre with vine age averaging 18 years. Cabernet Sauvignon makes up 55% of the plantings, Cabernet Franc 30%, Petit Verdot 11% and Merlot 4%. The combination of a longer, high-elevation growing season, and low vigor stoney mineral soils combine to create an ideal setting to grow great red wine. At Continuum they are stewards of the land and farm accordingly.

"The 2011 Continuum is a dark, brooding beauty. The heavy presence of Petit Verdot, 11% in this vintage, is clearly felt in the wine's somber, intense personality. The 2011 is going to require significant patience. It boasts superb density and pedigree, but it was also bottled just a few months ago, and is a bit unsettled at this stage. The 2011 was made from virtually all estate fruit, with a splash of Petit Verdot from Mount Veeder. Drink 2016-2031."

In 1980 a young Heidi Peterson Barrett graduated from UC Davis with a degree in fermentation science.  By 1983 she was head winemaker at Buehler Estate Vineyards, which is a Rogers & Company partner and a source of excellent Cabernet Sauvignon at more-than-fair prices.

 

In 1988 she was hired by Dalla Valle, in 1992 and 1993 she received 100 point scores from Robert Parker for Dalla Valle "Maya". In 1992 she began making wine for Screaming Eagle, her most celebrated project to date.  The 1992 and 1997 vintages garnered another set of 100's from Mr. Parker.  A 6-liter bottle of the '92 Screaming Eagle set a world record for the highest price ever paid for a single bottle of wine at the 2000 Napa Valley Wine Auction selling for $500,000. 

 

Her list of current and former projects is the best in the business; Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, Buehler, Jones Family, Grace Family, Vineyard 29, David Arthur, Barbour Vineyards, Revana, Showket, Lamborn, Kenzo, Au Sommet and Fantesca.

 

In 1994 she started her own label La Sirena, a Cabernet-based wine to compete with the best that Napa Valley can produce. Her fruit sources cover multiple AVAs, and she uses the variety of flavours and textures from these individual vineyards to build a wine that is powerful, energetic, rich and aromatic and which can be cellared for decades. 

"The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon is a bit more powerful and structured than the 2009. It has less of the early appeal of its older sibling, but plenty of pleasure waiting in store. Smoke, licorice, blackberries and sweet spices are supported by firm, insistent tannins. This is a beautiful, striking wine. 2015-2030."