Emerson Brown Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019

Napa Valley's 2005 vintage was one for the books, producing an over-abundance of fruit leading to grapes being turned away at crush pads. This paved the way for a life-changing opportunity for Keith Emerson and Brian Brown, who, at the time, were working closely together at Vineyard 29 Winery. Through some self-described horse-trading with growers, they were able to begin the Emerson Brown partnership. They have been collaborating on Napa Valley wines ever since. 

Keith Emerson is a Boston native who had plans to become a chef but had his mind changed when he came across an article about learning winemaking and moved to California to attend the esteemed UC Davis. There, he graduated with a degree in Fermentation Science with an emphasis on Enology and Viticulture. After honing his skills with stops at Cakebread Cellars , Gundlach Bundschu (California's oldest continuously family-owned winery), Palliser Estate in New Zealand, Robert Craig and others, a winemaker friend referred him to a position at Vineyard 29 in Saint Helena. There, he brought on Brian Brown, and three years later, they decided to become vintner partners. Today, Keith is the Director of Winemaking at Vineyard 29 and runs a small label of his own, Sonría Wines, which focuses on lighter style varieties, including Oregon Pinot Noir and Rutherford Sauvignon Blanc. 

Having grown up with a family that owned a vineyard on the eastern bench of Oakville, at the time known as III Michaels Estate, Brian Brown was destined to also graduate from UC Davis with a degree in Viticulture and Enology. He went on to work harvests at Iron Horse Vineyards in Sonoma, Salitage in Pemberton Australia, and Napa Wine Company in Oakville, and later became the enologist at Trefethen Vineyards . While the family vineyard was purchased by Bart and Daphne Araujo ( Araujo Estate , Eisele Vineyard , Wheeler Farms , Accendo ) in 2013 and renamed the Rancho Pequeno Vineyard (which translates to "small ranch"), they agreed to continue selling fruit to Brian and Keith. To this day, these grapes remain a part of the Emerson Brown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Keith and Brian have one goal in mind; being dedicated to crafting wines that will delight and satisfy a range of palates. The 2019 bottling is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot that was sourced from friends and sites that Emerson Brown has worked with for many years - primarily bench and valley floor vineyards in Oakville, Rutherford, and St. Helena. The clusters were 100% destemmed at the time of harvest, then carefully sorted before fermentation was carried out in several small lots. The wine was then aged in 40% new French oak for 18 months. This is a refreshing, juicy and approachable wine with a medium to full-bodied palate and notes of red plums, spice, and mocha. Not only does this drink well right out of the gate, but it will age beautifully over the next 10 years. A total knockout of a wine for only $52!