Napa California has been blessed with three back to back near perfect vintages for both quality and quantity! I represent many of these small boutique properties, and today I am featuring three incredible family owned wineries! Supplies are limited, so please don't delay this Holiday Season or you'll miss out on these gems!

No Stranger to the life of wine making, Kirk Venge, son of Neils Venge who produced California's first 100 point wine for Groth Family Vineyards, has branched out on his own and created Venge Vineyards. His Scout's Honor is always highly sought after and will be released in mid February, however, his newly released 2014 Silencieux Napa Valley Cabernet is now available! 

Napa Valley Floor, Benchmark and Mountain Fruit comprise this wonderful, elegant and ready to enjoy now and for the next 20 years Cabernet! The previous vintages of 2012 and 2013 both scored 95 pts. Don't wait until the score comes out on this 'cause it will be gone! 

2014 Venge Silencieux

Powerful and full-bodied, opening with scents of sweet cassis, anise, blackberries, roasted coffee, and vanilla. The tannins are firmer up-front than the 2012 and 2013 vintages, with a full mouth-coating lead into a concentrated and lengthy finish. This wine is approachable upon release and cellar-worthy in proper aging conditions. Best now through 2027. 1,790 cases produced

60 cases in stock

Also available is Venge's 2014 single vineyard Bone Ash Cabernet from Calistoga. Previous vintages scored extremely well, 98 pts for 2012 and 96 pts for 2013!

2014 Venge Bone Ash Cabernet, Calistoga

This is true Cabernet expression! Black and blue berries, jelly jar and jammy notes fill the senses, with aromatics that reside in the blue fruit spectrum. As this wine opens up, the background notes of French Oak vanillin and earth come forward. The palate is concentrated, polished, and full-bodied. Black currant, blackberry and black cherry are all intertwined with an acid and tannin balance that is promising. 420 cases produced

12.5 cases in stock

Justin Stevens, the son of Don Stevens who started DR Stevens in 1999 has partnered up with Kirk Venge to make some intense, fruit concentrated Napa Cabernets and Blends. Not only does Justin oversee DR Stevens for his father now, but he began the Hunnicutt label in 2001, and partnered with Kirk in 2008. The pair built an 18,000 sq. ft. cave where Kirk makes all the Hunnicutt wines, and then the rest of the working area is leased out to other up and coming vintners. 

We are sold out of the 2013 Hunnicutt Cabernet, but we do have his ever changing Fearless Red Blend. 

2013 CUTT Fearless Red

The nose is bright and beautiful, led by instantly gratifying notes of blackberry and blueberry preserves and uplifted by a comforting core of caramel, vanilla and hints of rich earth.  On the palate, the entry is abundant and fruit driven, continuing the promised berry theme well into the mid palate.  The finish brings hints of Christmas spices and sweet oak as well as a savory richness typical to Syrah that has a pleasing mouthwatering effect.

4.5 cases in stock

This is an amazing property which dates back to one of Napa's Pioneer's, Henry Hagen. Henry began this vineyard and winery called Cedar Knoll in the 1880's. But like most pioneer's back then, prohibition put his winery out of business. His family tried to sell the farm but it wasn't until the 1940's that this piece sold. Not much was done to the property with the new owners and it was all but left in ruins when Julio Palmaz purchased it in the 90's. After an extensive soil test of 612 acres only 62 acres were found to be worth planting grapes. The first Cabernet was finally planted in 1997.

But they didn't stop there, they built an amazing 14 story winery that goes well underground into the mountain itself. This allows the team to treat the wine with the greatest of care since everything is gravity fed. Not just from fermentation to the holding tanks, but to the barrels, filtration floor all the way to the bottling line! All this effort shows in the quality of their wines! 

There are three excellent wines available from this unique property.

2014 Palmaz Amelia Chardonnay

The 2014 vintage featured a steady growing season rewarding us with a distinctly aromatic vintage. The warm summer helped to concentrate the fruit, resulting in an abundant harvest. While previous vintages of Chardonnay were restrained upon release, this wine is uniquely expressive featuring ripe apple, lemon peel with a subtle overlay of walnut shells and vanilla bean. The palate celebrates a lush round mouthfeel without tipping the scales into rich or cloying characteristics. Pairs well with delicate fish dishes such as Dover sole with lemon beurre blanc. 

5 cases in stock

2012 Palmaz Cabernet

96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc. Aged 20 months in  89% New French Oak
This wine is extroverted and braggadocios. The warm weather of 2012, consistent and almost euphorically pleasant, produced fruit with exceptional ripeness and plush tannins. The explosive blackberry and vanilla aromas draw the attention of even the most distracted taster. The texture is satisfyingly rich, reminiscent of browned butter, with a finish that lingers on the palate. Quite ripe and satisfying alone, this wine can be enjoyed with hearty dishes such as braised short ribs, or enjoyed equally with fine dark chocolates and a cigar.  2,783 cases produced.

3 cases in stock

2013 Cedar Knoll Cabernet

Cabernet from all of the Palmaz vineyards. To honer Henry Hagen this wine is made a little differently and is pressed wine instead of all free run. It's a bit more structured with stronger tannins, great dark cherry flavors lingering into some light cedar notes. A delicious example of a 2013 Napa Valley Cabernet!

 3.5 cases in stock