Yates Family Vineyard Fleur de Veeder 2007
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Shows the rich, concentrated tannins associated with Mount Veeder, as well as the rich, ripe fruit. Oak stands out, with toasty caramel, as well as strong flavors of blackberries, cherries and currants. Yet the real star is the mouthfeel. It’s fleshy and almost fatty and should develop in the bottle through 2013.
The 35 acres of steep, hillside vineyards were replanted by the Yates’ family in the early 1980s to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. At an average elevation of over 1,100 feet, the site, with its combination of micro climates and volcanic soils, produces incredible grapes with intense fruit flavors.
The vineyard is also home to the historic ghost winery that was built in the 1800’s. Known then as "Castle Rock Vineyard", Ernest Streich, with son Robert, farmed and made wine until Prohibition in one of the original gravity flow wineries. Ahead of their time, they were one of the first to experiment with cultured yeast and temperature to control their fermentations.
These elements all contribute to the extremely long-lived wines from this vineyard. Ultimately the telling is in the tasting. We hope you will avail yourself of the opportunity to discover our very special wines.
With generous fruit and supple tannins, Merlot is made in a range of styles from everyday-drinking to world-renowned and age-worthy. Merlot is the dominant variety in the wines from Bordeaux’s Right Bank regions of St. Emilion and Pomerol, where it is often blended with Cabernet Franc to spectacular result. Merlot also frequently shines on its own, particularly in California’s Napa Valley. Somm Secret—As much as Miles derided the variety in the 2004 film, Sideways, his prized 1961 Château Cheval Blanc is actually a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
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.