2011 Matthiasson Napa Valley Red California, USA

2011 Matthiasson Napa Valley Red California, USA

$150.00

The Red Hen Merlot Vineyard, along Dry Creek, at the very top of the creek’s alluvial fan, is a warm site withvery light and thin soils, composed of a foot of silty loam sitting on top  of at least 20 feet of pure cobble. The vines are naturally small berried and early ripening. The stress results in extremely low yields, barely making over a ton per acre of intense and concentrated fruit. In the 1950s through the 1970s, this block produced the top fruit for Christian Brothers, when it was still run by the Church (it was called “block 74”). The vineyard provides rich ripe aromatic fruit.

The Dead Fred Vineyard in Coombsville sits on a rocky volcanic knoll, with soil of gray volcanic ash and rylolite (compressed ash) rocks. Its south-western exposure causes it to pick up heat during the day, and the proximity to the mouth of the Napa Valley keeps the nights cool. This combination of volcanic soil, daytime heat, and nighttime cool creates fruit that is uncommonly structured and ripe, yet fresh and minerally.  We leased it and started farming it organically in 2012.

The Cabernet franc and Petit verdot are from The Matthiasson Vineyard, our home, and the Malbec is from one of Steve’s clients in St. Helena - Matthiasson

This wine is offered from a private cellar, Terms and Conditions for Private Cellars apply.

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