Lerner Project Sugarloaf Ranch Red Wine Napa Valley 2021

While working as a leading wood pallet vendor in the supply chain side of the wine industry, Stu Lerner took on many influential clients such as Silver Oak, the iconic Opus One, and his very first customer, Robert Mondavi himself. As his business and client list grew, Stu found himself with an all-access pass to the world of winemaking. If he had five or six sales calls daily, he would visit five or six tasting rooms and quickly became a purveyor and collector. After forty successful years in Napa Valley and Sonoma County, it was only natural that Stu's attention would shift in a different but related direction. Nearing retirement in 2014, Stu's wife, Karen, recalls him saying quite prophetically that "if I ever made a wine, it would have to be something I'd also want to buy myself," and before long, the search for a winemaker began.

Winemaking is all about relationships, and none is more important than that between winemaker and vineyard. Russell Bevan (Tench Vineyards, Bevan Cellars, PerUs, Institution) is proof of this. Named Wine Spectator's Winemaker of the Year back in 2015, few could have foreseen how high this star would rise. Dazzling many with his hedonistic approach to Cabernet Sauvignon, Russell's specialty is unabashedly pleasure-serving Napa Valley red wine. So it is no surprise that he caught Stu and Karen's attention early in their hunt for a collaborator.

"I handpicked our winemaker. I've bought from all the top winemakers in Napa Valley, and Russell Bevan was my choice because his palate and my palate seemed to fit best." – Stu Lerner.

Russell oversees every facet of the production of his world-class wines, beginning in the vineyard and ending at the blending table, with focused, intended decisions made at every step. The intimate level at which Russell knows each barrel of wine included in a given blend complements the back-busting work of perennial "intern-of-the-year" and company namesake, Stu Lerner. The owner proudly scoops leaves from the sorting table, cleans the fruit bins, and sweeps the floors. So much for retirement!

Russell aimed the Sugarloaf Ranch towards a Right-Bank-esque style, blending Merlot and Cabernet Franc almost equally. Each varietal showcases its personality with bold tannins from the Cab Franc and a fruit-driven front palate from the Merlot. The final combination of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot spent 18 months in 100% new French oak before bottling. Black currants and blueberries entice on the nose with hints of crushed violet and peppermint. Rounded tannins uphold a remarkable structure with acidity, lending freshness to highlight the concentrated layers of dark fruits, pepper, and herbs. 250 cases produced!