Winemaker Notes
Capture Wines represents the marriage of time-honored Bordeaux winemaking with the intense fruit character of our organically farmed mountain estate, Tin Cross Vineyards, nearly 2,500 feet above the Alexander Valley floor in Sonoma County. Renowned winemaking team May-Britt and Denis Malbec, formerly of Chateau Latour in Bordeaux, create wines to bring out the rich personality of the terroir. The resulting wines are elegant expressions of depth, nuance and longevity.
Sam Teakle joined the Captûre winemaking team in 2015. Sam is tasked with finding and harnessing some of the best vineyards while creating wines that showcase the nuances of mountain Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon from the rugged Mayacamas Mountain Range. Even before joining Capture he has been drawn to mountain vineyards and exploring the frontier of winemaking in these remote regions
Above the town of St. Helena on the eastern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains sits the Spring Mountain District.
A dynamic region, its vineyards, cut by numerous springs and streams, vary in elevation, slope and aspect. Soils differ throughout with over 20 distinct types inside of the 8,600 acres that define the appellation. Within that area, only about 1,000 are planted to vineyards. Predominantly farmed by small, independent producers, the region currently has just over 30 wineries.
During the growing season, late afternoon Pacific Ocean breezes reach the Spring Mountain vineyards, which sit at between 400 and 1,200 feet. Daytime temperatures during mid summer and early fall remain slightly cooler than those of the valley floor.
Spring Mountain soils—volcanic matter and sedimentary rock—create intense but balanced reds with lush and delicate tannins. The area excels with Bordeaux varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot and in some cooler spots, Chardonnay.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.