Winemaker Notes
The wines of Hess Mount Veeder reflect Donald Hess' vision of mountain wines with winemaking and grape growing working hand in hand to extract the best expressions of mountain fruit. These wines display balance and elegance with ample strength and structure to age. Mount Veeder is the coolest, southernmost mountain district in Napa and has both a volcanic and geologically unique soil that only occurs in this mountain AVA. The unique attributes of the soils, exposures and altitude create wines that reveal the mountain's distinct personality.
The 2004 Mount Veeder Cuvée has complex aromas of cassis, cedar, and mint. Black cherry on the palate is expressive of our mountain fruit, while finished tannins provide an underlying structure which will continue to evolve with proper cellaring. This wine complements an adventurous range of culinary tastes.
Ineffably luscious and cool, this wine has mountain-grown fruit intensity without feeling pushed to extremes of ripeness or extract. It's gentle and delicious, offering earthy spice and a hint of anise to heighten the saturation of fruit."
-Wines & Spirits
Professional Ratings
For over 40 years, The Hess Collection has been producing complex, elegant wines sourced from estate vineyards high on Mount Veeder and in the far reaches of the Napa Valley. It is from these rugged landscapes that The Hess Collection winemaking team crafts exceptional luxury wines.
A pioneer by nature, Donald Hess was determined to defy convention and pursue winemaking at elevation. In 1978, he established The Hess Collection Winery on the site of one of the region’s oldest wineries on Mount Veeder. Although few in Napa Valley were cultivating vines at elevation, Donald Hess believed the volcanic slopes of Mount Veeder provided the ideal combination of soils and microclimates to yield elegant wines with rich, complex flavors.
Today, the next generation of The Hess family continues Donald’s legacy at the winery's home on Mount Veeder.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.