Featured Winery -Hartwell Vineyards

Hartwell Vineyards is a wonderful family owned and managed winery located on Silverado Trail in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley. Visits to the winery are by appointment and are only available Wednesday through Saturday. The winery is situated on 20 acres planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petite Verdot additionally they own a small vineyard in Carneros planted with Sauvignon Blanc. The winery produces four Bordeaux varietal estate wines that are richly concentrated with lush ripe flavors and supple tannins. Hartwell released it’s first wine, a 1990 vintage cabernet, in 1992 thanks to the use of a friends wine making facility. In 1997 the family broke ground on their own winery facility which was completed just in time for the 1999 harvest.

At that point they added Merlot to the estates wine portfolio and also purchased 4 acres in Carneros that was subsequently planted with Sauvignon Blanc.
Since their first release Hartwell wines have been highly sought after and are frequently rated in the 90’s by Wine Spectator. Ironically their most highly rated wine is the 1999 Estate Cabernet which was rated a 96 and has just been rereleased in celebration of the wineries 10 year Anniversary.

On a recent visit to the vineyard we were hosted by Linda LaPonza, the General Manager and daughter of the wineries owners Bob and Blanca Hartwell. This was my second visit to Hartwell and both times we have been the only guests in the tasting room. On this visit we ventured out onto the patio for the tasting and were joined by other family members that also work at the winery.

Hartwell offers four wines; a Sauvignon Blanc, an Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, an Estate Merlot and Misty Hill Cabernet (named in honor of the often foggy hillside the winery is situated on). On this visit we tasted the 2005 Estate Merlot, the 2005 Miste Hill Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2005 Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

2005 Estate Merlot
The 2006 Estate Merlot is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot that’s been aged in French Oak barrels for 20 months. It’s a full bodied wine with a bouquet of ripe blackberry, plum and spices. This flavor profile carries through to the palate with a long dry finish.

2005 Miste Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2005 Miste Hill Cabernet is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and has been aged in French Oak barrels for 20 months. The grapes for this wine come exclusively from the hillside estate. During the aging process the barrels that show brightness of fruit, soft tannins and approachability are selected. The wine is bottled without fining or filtration. The result is a fruit forward wine designed to drink now but with sufficient tannins to help the wine age for several years. Miste Hill is a full bodied wine that is full of dark fruit – black currant, blackberry, black cherry - from the initial taste through to the long end.

2005 Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2005 Estate Reserve Cabernet sauvignon is a blend of 94.7% cabernet sauvignon and 5.3% petit verdot which has been aged for 20 months in French Oak Barrels. This cabernet demonstrates great varietal purity from the aromatic black fruit – black currant, blackberry and black cherry – bouquet that continues through to the palate toasted vanilla finish and well structured tannins. This is Hartwell’s signature wine and the 2005 vintage certainly sets the standard.

For more information on Hartwell Vineyards and to order wine you can visit Hartwell Vineyards at www.hartwellvineyards.com

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Ian Staples, Features Editor