VINEYARDS
Broken Rock Ranch Vineyard
Broken Rock Ranch Vineyard is strategically located in the Atlas Peak AVA just off Silverado Trail, and features volcanic and granite-like sub soil. Western exposure on the slope provides abundant ripening afternoon sun to deliver brawny hillside structure, dark fruit aromatics and rich valley floor flavor. Elite vineyard designer & operator, Bill Hill, owns Broken Rock. The vines chosen for our Broken Rock Cabernet Sauvignon are grown from Clone 337 on Riperia Gloire rootstock using bi-lateral cordon trellising and vertical shoot position (“VSP”) training.
Found in the eastern hills above the City of Napa, the Atlas Peak AVA is among the coolest of Napa Valley’s mountain appellations. Facing mostly southwest, the AVA gets just enough direct sunlight in the afternoon and is well insulated from the heat of the valley floor. Heat spikes are uncommon, which reduces the chance of sunburn, dehydration or sugar accumulation in the grapes before maturity. Temperatures drop at night to help maintain grape acidity.
Atlas Peak rises from 760 to 2,663 feet above sea level, and with volcanic, brick-red, iron-rich soils that tend to be fairly shallow and easily drained. Vine growth is limited, and yields small berries with thick skins. Structure, stony minerality and complexity are the result.
Moulds Family Vineyard
We are incredibly fortunate to source fruit for our Benedetto Cabernet Sauvignon from this viticultural gem. Just over twenty years ago, Betsy and Steve Moulds planted 11 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon on the gently sloping hillsides at the foot of Mt. Veeder. Accolades quickly followed, culminating with the Napa Valley Grape Growers of the Year in 2018. Precision viticulture and sustainable farming guide every decision. Each cane on every vine will have an expertly tended leaf canopy to maximize airflow and photosynthesis. Wines from MFV display a gorgeous nose and palate built upon floral and berry notes driven by fresh violets, expressive blackberry and graphite.
Located in the sweet spot of Napa Valley’s southwestern bench, MFV experiences moderate temperatures year-round allowing fruit to ripen slowly. Breezes from the San Pablo Bay help provide this area with Napa Valley’s longest growing season for Cabernet Sauvignon and, ultimately, spectacular wine grapes.
The vines chosen for our MFV Cabernet Sauvignon are grown from Clone 169 on 1616c Rootstock using Bi-Lateral Cordon and Vertical Shoot Positioning. Soils are Fagen Loam with Volcanic Elements.
Stagecoach Vineyard®
The Stagecoach Vineyard ® has been called the last frontier of the Napa Valley – a wilder, more rugged country, fragrant with wild herbs and dotted with rare native plants. Our Cabernet Franc block is noted for its red, volcanic soils made up of a boulder-strewn clay loam and solid rock outcroppings that have been dynamited to create a more uniform soil base. This area’s southwestern slopes and location retain heat, but what makes this spot completely unique is its position at the very mouth of Foss Valley, overlooking Napa Valley with a southerly view of the San Francisco Bay. There usually is a steady breeze coming up from the valley, providing more marine influence than the rest of the vineyard – the fog usually arrives here first.
All of these factors contribute to our block’s unique terroir, positioning the Cabernet Franc vines for ultimate ripening weather. Ripe, bold, and extremely concentrated describes the fruit from this region, which is destined for ultra-premium wines.
Howell Mountain
Game Theory Vineyard
Magic happens among the vines in the Game Theory Vineyard, found on Howell Mountain nearly 2,000 feet above the valley floor. Wines made from this vineyard are often the biggest, boldest and most ostentatious in the cellar. Decomposed volcanic ash-based soil combined with treacherously steep slopes stress vines into producing tiny berries with structured spicy notes and robust tannins. Game Theory produces a juggernaut of mountain fruit and structure. With a muscular core of blackberry and dark chocolate, backed by brooding structure and focused acidity, wines from this vineyard become the most age-worthy bottles in the cellar.
Howell Mountain is located on the Vaca Mountain range along Napa Valley’s eastern edge. The Game Theory Vineyard owes its distinctive climate to its serious elevation on Howell Mountain, well above the valley floor and even the fog that rolls into Napa Valley from the Pacific coast. The weather on Howell Mountain is temperate, with evening temperatures generally warmer and daytime temperatures much cooler than on the valley floor.
The vines chosen for our Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon are grown from Clone 7 on 3309 Rootstock in Volcanic Ash & Red Clay soil using Bi-Lateral Cordon and Vertical Shoot Positioning.
Rutherford
Georges III Vineyard
One of the most historic and sought-after properties in the new world, Georges III was originally owned and planted by Thomas Rutherford in 1895. Wines from this vineyard consistently score in the 90s — opulent, rich and full-bodied with black currant, cedar, black-licorice and cherry complimented by earthy flavors associated with Rutherford Dust. Gravelly, loamy soils derived from alluvial sandstone bedrock dominate this part of Napa Valley. Lying low on the valley floor, Georges III resides on the Rutherford Bench, a coveted parcel near the Napa River and Conn Creek where pockets of clay beneath creek-bed soils provide vines with an excellent balance of moisture and nutrients. Western exposure and cool morning mist from the Pacific allow fruit to ripen slowly, producing grapes that reach full phenolic maturity and elegant wines having structure, finesse and a long finish.
Sonoma Coast
Rodgers Creek Vineyard
Rodgers Creek Vineyard is a 297 acre ranch (83.5 acres planted) sitting as a crown jewel a short distance from the Pacific coast. Planted in 2001, the vines have an east-west orientation, allowing the canopy to protect the fruit from steady winds on the hill. The site is about 600 feet above sea level and is so uniquely located that the steep, terraced blocks get plenty of afternoon sun and wind. Constant wind and fog from the east meet temperate weather from the Bay, providing us with later ripening Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The yields from this mountain site are just around 2.5 tons per acre. Did we mention the view? Clear days reveal 180-degree views from Napa to San Francisco, Marin and Petaluma.
Sta. Rita Hills
Courtney’s Vineyard
Courtney’s Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Sta. Rita Hills is one of California’s smaller and premier cool-climate AVAs, with 99% of its territory falling within the larger Santa Ynez Valley AVA. Intersected by the Santa Ynez River, this picturesque region lies between the towns of Buellton and Lompoc in Santa Barbara County. Courtney’s Vineyard is a 52-acre hillside property featuring limestone-based soil types. Typical of Sta. Rita Hills, the site is cool and generously influenced by the Pacific coast. The vines chosen for our Chardonnay are grown from Clone 4 using bi-lateral cordon trellising and VSP training.
Lindsay’s Vineyard
Lindsay’s Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Sta. Rita Hills is one of California’s smaller and premier cool-climate AVAs, with 99% of its territory falling within the larger Santa Ynez Valley AVA. Intersected by the Santa Ynez River, this picturesque region lies between the towns of Buellton and Lompoc in Santa Barbara County. Lindsay’s Vineyard has 205-acres of rolling hills featuring six distinct, limestone-based soil types. Like Courtney’s, this site is cool and generously influenced by the Pacific coast. Lindsay’s is planted to a mix of heritage and heirloom Pinot Noir clones carefully matched to the terroir. The vines chosen for our Pinot Noir are grown from Clones Pommard 4 and 2a, using bi-lateral cordon trellising and VSP training.