Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Wine & Spirits
Rudy von Strasser, who trained in Pauillac at Château Lafite-Rothschild before exploring Diamond Mountain, was fascinated by how petit verdot ripened on the hillside of volcanic ash that grounded his estate vineyard. In Bordeaux, the variety is used in small amounts to boost tannins and color. On Diamond Mountain, von Strasser used it to build his Reserve: petit verdot and cabernet sauvignon each account for 40 percent of the blend, with merlot and malbec providing the balance. Since he sold the vineyard in 2015, he has found other sources for petit verdot on the mountain for his Reserve. This vintage is red-fruited, with the flavor of a plum tomato in August, that slightly vegetal red tone integrating into the wine’s richness and lending perspective. A day after opening, it’s pure red cherry with a range of accents, from cassis to thyme and rosemary, a beautiful evocation of Diamond Mountain through cabernet and verdot.
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.
Diamond Mountain is the northernmost mountain appellation in the Mayacamas Range, on the northwest side of the valley floor, above the town of Calistoga. Defined mainly by elevation, vineyards are planted at 400 to 2,200 feet.
Diamond Mountain vineyards receive plenty of sunshine at these elevations and are typically above the coastal fog line. But given its western proximity, the area still easily cools down from early morning and late afternoon Pacific Ocean breezes. The AVA (American Viticultural Area) covers 5,000 acres but just over 500 acres are under vine.
Diamond Mountain soils, mainly weathered, red sedimentary rock and decomposed, volcanic ash, are infertile, quick-draining and produce small, thick-skinned grapes, bursting with chewy tannins.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Zinfandel have great success here.
Like other sub-appellations in Napa Valley, the Diamond Mountain area had no shortage of pioneer winemakers. Rudy von Strasser led the effort for Diamond Mountain to acquire AVA status in 1999.