Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
The historic Park Muscatine vineyard on Howell Mountain was chosen in part because Mike has known this vineyard since his childhood, pruning the vineyard in winter, and harvesting the fruit in the fall. With its scant ton per acre production, this vineyard is a gem.
They chose the Retro name to pay homage to the generational groundwork that’s been laid for their endeavor and with a vision for continuity in the future literally illustrated by the artwork on the label, which came from the hand of their then 11-year-old son, Alex. Alex, now 23, is a graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute, and part-time cellars hand at Dunn Vineyards and Retro Cellars.
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.