Nose
Distinctive red and black currant and blueberry fruit with a lifted
perfume of violets, mint, soy sauce and dried thyme.
Palate
Full bodied
with a grapey freshness and deeper dark flavors of mocha, red
currant and asphalt. Rich with a silky texture, savory tannins and
a long, cool finish.
Growing Conditions
Newton’s Spring Mountain property was purchased in 1977
by the Newton family who quickly established 120 acres of
vineyard and a winery within the 560 acre mountainous and
heavily forested property. Now with a mature vineyard planted
exclusively to Bordeaux red varieties and in combination with
an extensive replanting program now bearing well established
vines the property represents a treasure trove of wine potential.
Our Spring Mountain property ranges in altitude from 500
to 1600 feet with a complex combination of both sedimentary
and volcanic origin soil types presenting a diverse, moderately
fertile, and well drained medium perfectly suited to Cabernet
Sauvignon. The wines are typically deeply complex with aromatic
high notes complementing the richly textured and layered palate.
The 2015 season was one of contrasts. The vintage was noted by significantly
reduced yields (-35-50%) a result of a cool and damp flowering period in
Spring which resulted in poor fruit set and fewer berries per bunch. The
Summer and Autumn were hot and dry continuing the run of drought
conditions which commenced from the 2012 vintage. The quality of the
fruit was outstanding although in limited supply with the vintage likely to
be recognized as one of Napa Valley’s greatest.
The 2015 vintage is tight, complex and intense and will look its
best with 5 years in the bottle and will certainly improve with age
beyond 20 years.
Harvest
Harvest dates: September 11 - 22, 2015
Winemaking
The 2015 Spring Mountain District was a selection of Cabernet from blocks 704,705,727,728,752,758,760,767 with an average vine age
of 25 years. Once harvested, the grapes were hand-sorted to inspect
individual berries. The must was then fermented in separate lots
and barrel aged for 12 months before being blended and returned
to barrel for further maturation.
