Winemaker Notes
Mount Veeder appellation is regarded as one of the finest in Napa Valley. The wines are solidly built for aging. They also show an incredible depth of flavor and a unique character that is derived from its mountainous terrain and volcanic subsoil. In there prior wine careers the winemakers Eric and Shun had the chance to produce wine from this vineyard. Extraordinary flavors, color and tannins melded together with alchemy-like reactions during fermentation making a profound wine. Twenty months' time in barrel resolved tannins and allowed greater complexity to develop. It will be most enjoyable with another decade of bottle age.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Tasted as a barrel sample quite early in its life, the 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon already shows immense promise, opening with a dark, coniferous and understated bouquet. On the palate, it combines a supple, velvety texture with a sturdy, ironclad core, culminating in a pure, swelling finish propelled by refined, persistent tannins. Aged in primarily American oak with some French, it contains a combined 25% of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
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Vinous
Tasted from barrel, the 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder is a heavyweight blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. It’s a very tightly wound wine today, but it’s impossible to miss the sheer density of fruit through the mid-palate. Mountain structure is nicely tamed, but these pesky little tannins are going to need quite a bit of time to come around. This is a very impressive effort. I look forward to tasting this from bottle, as the remainder of élevage will likely help soften some of the imposing structure. A beautiful wine in the making.
Barrel Sample: 93-95
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Centered at the peak for which it is named, Mount Veeder is Napa’s largest sub-AVA. But even though the entire appellation spreads over 16,000 acres, vineyards cover a mere 1,000. Scattered among Douglas firs and bristlecone pines, Mount Veeder vineyards extend south from the upper elevations of the Mayacamas Mountains—the highest point at 2,400 feet—to the border of the Carneros region. Less than 25 wineries produce wine from Mount Veeder fruit.
Winemaking began early in this appellation. In 1864, Captain Stelham Wing presented the first Mount Veeder wine to the Napa County Fair; it came from today’s Wing Canyon Vineyard. Prohibition, of course, halted winemaking and viticulture wasn’t revitalized until the founding of Mayacamas Vineyards in 1951 and Bernstein Vineyards in 1964.
The Bernstein Vineyards was actually home to the first Petit Verdot in California, planted in 1975. Today most of the Petit Verdot in Napa Valley originates from this vineyard.
Rocky volcanic clay and ancient seabed matter dominate Mount Veeder soils—perfect for Bordeaux varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot enjoy spectacular success. These varieties produce wines rich in brambly blackberry and black cherry fruit with herbal and floral aromatics. Structures are moderate to assertive and wines have great staying power.
Chardonnay from Mount Veeder is lush, full and balanced mineral and fresh citrus flavors.