Fern Rock Vineyard

Located in the Spring Mountain AVA, Fern Rock Vineyard is a steeply terraced property that eeks out just two tons of fruit per acre. Nutrient-poor Boomer, Felton and Millsholm soils and high elevation produce boldly structured wines with classic mountain-grown characters and powerfully concentrated black and blue fruit on the nose and palate. The vines chosen for our Broken Rock Cabernet Sauvignon are grown from Clone 7 on 5C rootstock using open lyre trellising.

The Spring Mountain AVA lies above the town of St. Helena on the eastern side of the Mayacamas Mountains. Clear running springs and thick forest acreage throughout the mountain give the area its name and personality, a world away from the valley below.

The AVA lies mostly along the winding Spring Mountain Road, ranging from 500 to 2,600 feet in elevation. Less than 10 percent of the AVA’s 5,000 acres are planted to grapevines, and most of those are steep and forested. Sedimentary and volcanic loam soils with high drainage and low fertility are typical.

G3 Vineyard

One of the most historic and sought-after properties in the new world, G3 was originally owned and planted by Thomas Rutherford in 1895. Wines from this vineyard consistently score in the high 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, G3 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.

Melrose Vineyard

Located on the northern edge of the Rutherford AVA, Melrose reveals characteristics more often associated with Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyard’s heavier clay soils, render a more nuanced, reserved interpretation of the grape with a lush blend of red and black fruits and hints of eucalyptus and mint. Moderately warm and only marginally influenced by cooling morning mist, fruit tends to ripen a bit more slowly and steadily here than in surrounding areas. What we get are grapes with optimum balance of acidity to tannin and, most importantly, Cabernet Sauvignon that reflects the finesse and character of wines crafted in the traditional Bordeaux style.

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 located in the vineyard’s Pritchard Hill area, with 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 Pritchard Hill’s unique terroir, positioning our block for ultimate ripening weather. Ripe, bold, and extremely concentrated describes the fruit from this region, which is destined for ultra-premium wines.