/ Futures / Spring Mountain Cabernet 2022
Perched high atop the Napa Valley, in a rugged landscape of steep slopes, forests, and rocky volcanic soils, lives a classic mountain vineyard. One that was planted in 1971 and is still farmed by the brothers who purchased and developed the remote property as two young college grads. I am talking about the Smith Brothers of the legendary Smith-Madrone Vineyards and Winery.
Their philosophy is much the same today as it was back then - great wines can only come from great grapes. So for 50 years, they've done things the hard way, and mostly by hand, to make that happen. If you haven’t heard of them, that is okay. They produce less than 5,000 cases per year from entirely estate-grown fruit, dry-farmed, and for a discerning audience.
Lucky for you, they *quietly* started selling some of their precious fruit to other winemakers. A practice not very common for small estates that make their own wines, but they saw the value in working with a very experienced winery (who we source from) to get their prized grapes into new hands.
We were fortunate to get access to a SINGLE BARREL of this extraordinary mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, and are seizing the opportunity.
Now our foray into a limited edition Wines in Tandem wine has begun. With standards as high as ours, and a penchant for the old-world way of doing things, we couldn't start just anywhere. It was this vineyard, and the barrel, that spoke to us and we simply couldn't resist the chance to share this wine with our customers.
This single vineyard, single barrel, limited-edition goodness, is loaded with the classic charm of mountain herbs, freshly picked blackberry fruit, baking spice, pine needles, and hazelnut. The wine showcases a structured palette of firm tannins, and a long mineral-laden finish. Fruit flavors are well integrated, but not the primary tasting notes until the wine really opens up.
You might expect big extracted fruit and loads of toasted barrel oak and sweet vanilla from Napa regions, particularly just down the hill in St Helena, Rutherford, or Oakville. Spring Mountain Cabernets are different. Most are rugged, well rounded, and honest. Thankfully (our opinion) this style is coming BACK into fashion, as long time wine aficionados yearn for the nuance, character, and versatility they remember from their early days of tasting Napa Valley wines.
Reserve level wines from this winery and their neighbors on Spring Mountain fetch a high price, upwards of $250. Our single barrel offering represents a wonderful value considering the pedigree and limited production. We also believe it is important to note that this region is making spectacular wines, even if they are still under the radar, more than 50 years later.
Aging and service are important to keep in mind. This is easily a 10-20 aging wine, but our selection based on the vintage characteristics and the specific barrel, results in something easily enjoyed in the first 3-5 years. I will be opening some up every 6 months to watch the progression. Decanting will benefit the wine, and I recommend at least 1 hour before pouring the first glass.
Food pairing will be a pleasure. Pair this with herbed crusted roast rack of lamb or beef for a dynamite combination. Vegetarians can spoil their meat eating friends and partners with roasted rosemary potatoes and eggplant and chickpea tagine.
The wine will be released in September 2024 and ready for pickup then. Wines being shipped will be scheduled for mid October (weather permitting), or closer to the holidays if it’s a gift.
The Futures price is $129/bottle. Each bottle is tissue wrapped and stamped with our Wines in Tandem passport.
Compare to regular price $149 when the wine is released in September, although we expect to be sold out by then.
I truly hope this is something you add to your collection, or plan to give as a gift.
