Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
After fleeing his homeland in the days after the brutal crushing by the Soviet Army of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, Lou Sr. came to America and eventually settled in the San Francisco Bay Area. He married Roberta Henson in 1964, eventually settled in Seattle, Washington at the end of 1973, with their son, Louis Jr.
In 1998, on a visit to Bordeaux, France, Lou and Bobbie experienced a seminal moment that ironically set them on the path of being vineyard owners themselves. With great anticipation, Lou and Bobbie arrived at the centuries-old estate Leoville Las Cases (St. Julien), on a beutiful summer day, on invite for a private luncheon hosted by the estates' patriarch, Michel Delon. Over the course of the next five hours they were astounded by Mr. Delon's warmth and generosity, as was Mr. Delon fascinated by Lou's encyclopedic knowledge of not just the wines and history of Leoville Las Cases and Bordeaux, but of Burgundy, Champagne and the American estates and their terriors Lou was convinced could rival their hallowed French counterparts.
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.