Brion Longhorn Upper Range Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2021

At BRION, nothing begins halfway. Founder Brion Wise has built his life’s work around a simple but demanding belief: if something is going to matter, it has to start at the beginning. From his earliest days grafting trees by hand in his family’s orchards to founding his oil company at age 26, to opening a restaurant and wine bar in Boulder, CO, Wise has always been drawn to untested ground and the discipline it takes to build something lasting. When he came to California wine country in the early 1990s, he knew exactly what he wanted—land with no vines, no shortcuts, and no inherited answers. Upper Range follows that same philosophy: planted from scratch, shaped slowly, and allowed to reveal its character over time.

Upper Range Vineyard sits high in Napa Valley’s honorary AVA, Pritchard Hill, on a rugged, west-to-northwest-facing hillside defined by volcanic soils. Planted just over a decade ago on previously untouched land, the vineyard climbs from 560 to 750 feet in elevation, with steep slopes that naturally limit vigor and concentrate fruit. At just over 13 acres, Upper Range is intimate in scale but bold in expression—classic mountain Cabernet Sauvignon shaped by exposure, elevation, and time. The site is still in discovery, but its voice is already unmistakable.

That voice is carefully guided by winemaker Julien Fayard, whose long-standing collaboration with Brion Wise is rooted in shared values rather than formulas. Fayard approaches Upper Range with restraint and respect, focusing on texture, balance, and site expression rather than excess. His philosophy is clear: let the vineyard lead, manage oak thoughtfully, and allow structure to unfold naturally. The result is a wine that feels purposeful and confident, with no unnecessary embellishment—quintessential high-elevation Cabernet, interpreted with finesse.

The 2021 Upper Range Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon marks the inaugural release from this site. Aromatically, the wine opens with fresh fruit notes layered with blueberry pie, while the palate delivers brisk acidity wrapped in firm, textured tannins. There is a distinct mountain profile here—dark, structured, and powerful—yet balanced by lift and precision. Despite being only eight years from planting, the vineyard is coming fully into its own, and the wine captures that moment of emergence: raw energy refined by intention. Upper Range Vineyard is not just a new release—it’s a continuation of Brion Wise’s lifelong commitment to building things the right way, from the ground up.