Over fifty years, Spring Mountain Vineyard has gained a reputation for the classic Bordeaux varieties, grown organically in 19th century vineyards high above the Napa Valley. The unmatched beauty and diversity of the estate vineyard reveal authentic terroir in wines of structure, grace and longevity. The first vineyard for Spring Mountain was cultivated way back in the late 1800s, a few decades after legendary George C. Yount planted the first vines in the Napa Valley. Though the winery as currently constructed wasn’t formed until the early 1970s, the name itself and 845-acre property holds more history than can be included here. Put simply, the Spring Mountain District AVA wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for Spring Mountain Vineyard. Many of the vines under their ownership were originally planted by the renowned Beringer brothers and Charles Lemme (who planted the first Cabernet on Spring Mountain).

Today, Spring Mountain Vineyard performs the impossible by retaining the lost art of classic winemaking and preserving old stocks in their original, hand-carved cellar—two unthinkable triumphs in the frenetic pace of today’s wine landscape.

Vineyard: Spring Mountain Vineyard is an 845 acre estate on the eastern slopes and lower half of Spring Mountain. It extends from 400 feet above sea level to about 1450 feet at the top of the property. There are about 135 different vineyard blocks scattered over the estate totaling 226 acres. Each has a different elevation, soil, and exposure to the elements and each block produces something unique. This great diversity of steep hillside plantings is the source of consistent, powerful, and distinctive red wines.

Winemaking: Richness, concentration and balance are the hallmarks of wines from the Spring Mountain Vineyard in 2009. The vintage completes a three year drought cycle in Napa Valley and the effect on the 2009 wines is expressed as concentrated dark fruit. Yields in 2009 were less than one ton of fruit per acre, significantly less than normal yields of two tons per acre. The vintage is one of our recent favorites because growing conditions allowed the long hang time that ensures perfectly ripened fruit – a winemaker’s dream. Coming in with 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Merlot, the wine was aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak.

Profile: Potent aromas of sweet dark fruit, cocoa, caramel, and intriguing notes of violets introduce the wine. On the palate, the wine is structured and complex, the mid-palate laden with intense fruit - blackberry, cherry, and cassis - and further enhanced by notes of chocolate and baking spices. The finish is long and lingering, with a re-statement of concentrated fruit and spice.

2,175 cases produced