DANA ESTATE – NAPA BLUECHIP

Introducing Dana Estate:

“A very impressive revival of this historical estate in Rutherford (formally the Livingston-Moffett Estate), under the diligent consultancy of Philippe Melka, Dana Estates is producing polished and expressive superstar wines from three wonderfully diverse vineyards. Helms Vineyard consists of five acres on gravelly loam, right on the northern edge of the Rutherford bench, planted in 1997 and 1998. Hershey Vineyard on Howell Mountain is 26 acres in total, 18 of which were planted in 2008. It is planted to just about all aspects imaginable, so it’s quite a varied site, although the Dana Hershey label comes mainly from just four blocks. Lotus Vineyard is just below Howell Mountain, not high enough to make that AVA. A very steep vineyard, 100% hand farmed, Lotus is by far the warmest site for this estate. ” Parker’s Wine Advocate.

2018 Dana Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Vaso – 94 Points Jeb Dunnuck. $137.95 per bottle – six packs

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Vaso is cut from the same cloth, offering beautiful purity and richness. It’s slightly more pure and darker than the spicier 2017 and has notes of cassis, redcurrants, dark chocolate, tobacco, and violets. Full-bodied on the palate, it has silky tannins, terrific overall balance, and just loads of character and charm. It’s in the running for the greatest Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon under $100.

2019 Dana Estates • Cabernet Sauvignon Helms Vineyard – 97-99 Points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. $900 per bottle – 2 packs

Helms vineyard consists of five acres on gravelly loam, right on the northern edge of the Rutherford bench, planted in 1997 and 1998 to Cabernet Sauvignon clones See and 337. This barrel sample of the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Helms Vineyard is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and is due to be aged for 21 months in French oak barrels, 100% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it explodes with bombastic scents of crushed blackberries, plum preserves and crème de cassis followed by nuances of red roses, black tea, eucalyptus oil and dusty soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate shimmers with juicy black fruits, supported by ripe, soft tannins and lovely freshness, finishing long and fragrant. 402 cases are projected to be made.

2019 Dana Estates • Cabernet Sauvignon Hershey Vineyard – 97-99 Points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. $900 per bottle – 2 packs

Hershey vineyard on Howell Mountain is 26 acres in total, 18 of which were planted in 2008. It is planted to just about all aspects imaginable, so it’s quite a varied site, although the Dana Hershey label comes mainly from just four blocks. This barrel sample of the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Hershey Vineyard is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon (clones See and 191) and is due to be aged for 25 months in French oak barrels, 100% new. Deep garnet-purple in color, it slowly emerges from the glass with notes of crushed rocks, graphite and mossy tree bark with a core of redcurrant jelly, wild blueberries and Black Forest cake plus a profoundly pure undercurrent of cassis. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is impeccably crafted with super-fine tannins and loads of earthy layers, lifted by amazing freshness, finishing long and perfumed. 467 cases are projected to be made. No Hershey vineyard was produced in 2018.

2019 Dana Estates • Cabernet Sauvignon Lotus Vineyard – 97-100 Points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. $900 per bottle – 2 packs

Lotus vineyard is just below Howell Mountain, not high enough to make that AVA. A very steep vineyard, 100% hand farmed, Lotus is by far the warmest site for this estate. The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Lotus Vineyard is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Petit Verdot, due to be aged for 25 months in French oak barrels, 100% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes galloping out of the glass with powerful scents of blackcurrant cordial, chocolate-covered cherries and boysenberries with hints of licorice, black truffles, red roses and fallen leaves. Medium to full-bodied, taut, firm and and vibrant in the mouth, it has profound earth and savory layers with a long, long mineral layered finish. 338 cases are projected to be made.

A little background on Winemaker Philippe Melka:

On a whim, Philippe took a wine course in his final year of study at the University of Bordeaux while completing a geology degree – a moment that changed the trajectory of his life. He began his journey at Château Haut Brion where his passion for Cabernet-based blends and Sauvignon Blanc began and completed a Masters program in Agronomy and Enology. He was intrigued by the relationship between soil and wine quality, a fascination which continues today.

Yearning to learn more, he set out for Napa Valley (Dominus Estate), Western Australia (Chittering Estate), Chianti in Italy (Badia a Coltibuono) and Bordeaux (Chateau Petrus) where he divided his time between soil study and wine-making.  From the great diversity of terroirs he studied, Napa Valley revealed itself to have the most exciting potential for extraordinary wine.

Trained and influenced by some of the most notable personalities in the wine business, Philippe has devoted the past 19 years to winemaking in Napa Valley and was named one of the top nine wine consultants in the world by Robert Parker.