Nine Suns Sunbird Red Blend Napa Valley 2019

As an ancient Chinese legend goes, ten Sunbirds ruled the skies long ago. The Sunbirds took turns warming the land below, rising and setting each day. Then, one day, all ten Sunbirds rose together, creating blistering temperatures and endangering the Earth's crops.   To protect the planet and all its inhabitants, the emperor called upon the "Lord Archer" Houyi to rid the skies of the Sunbirds. He took his arrows to the sky, shooting down the Sunbirds one by one.  When one remained, the emperor and the sun deity, Xihe, begged Houyi to spare the final Sunbird, knowing humans needed the Sun to thrive.  And so, Houyi lowered his arrow, restoring balance and order to Earth. This myth is about the entrenched relationship between man and nature, something that is innate in the winemaking process. 

Jason and Flora Chang purchased their 40-acre property, the Houyi vineyard, high up on Pritchard Hill in 2010 and debuted their brand, Nine Suns, in 2012. One of the hallmarks of Pritchard Hill is its super rocky, volcanic soil that provides excellent drainage and is almost void of nutrients. This might sound unhospitable to us, but grape vines thrive under the right kind of stress, producing berries that are fewer in quantity but greater in concentration. David Abreu oversees farming for the 22-acre Houyi Vineyard which is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Syrah. Although only 12 years old, the Houyi vineyard has gained the interest of winemakers near and far, with grapes from this site going into wines vinted by top winemakers such as Sam Kaplan, Russell Bevan, Helen Keplinger, and Benoit Touquette.
 
Now in their third vintage of Sunbird, the 2019 is nothing short of extraordinary.  Hand-crafted by Philippe Melka and Lloyd Matthews, this new release is 100% Estate fruit from the Houyi Vineyard and a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Grenache, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc.  Showing textbook attributes of what Pritchard Hill is famous for, this wine exhibits a deep, rich color that coats the glass.  The nose is seductive with notes of cola, black tea, Mediterranean herbs and white chocolate. The palate is juicy and full-bodied with flavors of cassis, plum, and black cherry. Balanced in its fresh acidity and well-integrated tannins, this wine is ready for your glass now but would rest well for five years in your cellar if you so choose.