Paolo di Marchi has run Isole e Olena since the age of 20. The flagship wine at Isole e Olena is Cepparello, a barrique-aged Sangiovese. Paolo planted a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1980’s so the estate would not be entirely dependent on Sangiovese. Little did he know that the Cabernet would later rival Cepparello in both quality…
Dunn Vineyards is located east of St. Helena in the town of Angwin on Howell Mountain. The Winery was established in 1979, with the first harvest of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. In 1981, the first release consisted of 660 cases of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Howell Mountain vineyards. In 1982, Dunn released a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Dunn is one…
NFL Super Bowl Champion, All-Pro wide receiver and 1996 number one draft pick Keyshawn Johnson has joined other NFL greats like Drew Bledsoe and Terry Hoage in the winemaking business. Johnson has partnered on this project with R.C. Mills, a Los Angeles restaurant industry veteran. The first release is the 2007 XIX Cabernet Sauvignon from the Eastern Oregon area of…
Quilceda Creek Vintners was founded in 1978 by Alex and Jeanette Golitzin. Alex Golitzin is a nephew of André Tchelistcheff, the legendary winemaker who put BeaulieuVineyard at the forefront of Napa Valley Cabernet in the sixties and seventies. He credits summer trips to visit his uncle in St. Helena, California with developing his early interest in wine. Paul Golitzin, Alex’s…
Chateau Montelena dates back to 1882 when Albert Tubbs bought 254 acres of property just north of Calistoga. Tubbs planted vines and by 1896 Montelena was the 7th largest winery in California. Winemaking came to an end with the onset of Prohibition. The current iteration of Montelena can be traced to 1968, when Jim Barrett was brought on as a…
The August installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on 1995 California Cabernet Sauvignon (see the July installment for background on this series). I plan on opening the winning bottle on August 25th, and publishing an in depth bottle note on August 27th. 1995 was the third vintage in a string of four exceptional vintages in Napa Valley. James Laube…
Leonetti Cellar was founded in 1977 by Gary and Nancy Figgins. Leonetti, along with Quilceda Creek and Woodward Canyon put premium Washington Cabernet Sauvignon on the radar of wine consumers across the United States.
Spottswoode made their first Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1982 vintage and is one of the true iconic Cabernet producers in Napa Valley. The Estate Vineyard and winery are located in St. Helena. They also make an exceptional Sauvignon Blanc, a 2nd Cabernet called Lydenhurst and a Rhone blend known as Field Book.