Aadland-Moody Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2023

Kristine Aadland and Justin Moody have been bringing smiles to their patients for decades, both as Dentists with their own practices in Washington state and Nebraska. While dentistry has been their shared passion in the past and present, wine is their passion of the present and future. Justin’s wine journey, however, started almost 40 years ago after a visit to Napa Valley that gave him the confidence to plant vines back home in Nebraska. For ten years, he ran the Lover’s Leap Winery and served as President of the Nebraska Grape Growers, meeting others in the wine industry and making valuable relationships. Over this span of time, he visited California’s wine country, gaining inspiration each trip to pursue his dream of one day moving to Napa Valley. In 2020, while in town for BottleRock, Kristine and Justin saw an available property on Spring Mountain with vineyards planted, land for a personal home, and permitting to open a winery. The two accepted fate’s call to action and made an offer that day. It was accepted, and their dream was underway.

Their Spring Mountain property spans 15 acres and was originally planted in the 1940s by the Beringer family. In 2002, the then-owner, Petrus Bekker, replanted the 9-acre vineyard with multiple clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. Petrus employed Emil Tedeschi to manage his vineyards and make his wines, who passed the role to his son, Mario, who joined Justin and Kristine to manage Aadland-Moody and oversee the vineyard management after their purchase. Since 2020, they’ve started digging a 7,000 square foot wine cave for wine production, built a new home, and constructed a tasting room. 2023 marked Justin and Kristine’s first harvest as owners, and for ‘23, ‘24, and ‘25, the wines were made at Napa Valley Wine Company. The Hoxseys have been longtime friends of Justin and introduced the couple to their winemaker, Bob Pepi.

This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is all about showcasing the distinctive profiles of Napa Valley’s mountain terroirs. With 44% of the grapes sourced from the Aadland-Moody estate, 38% from Howell Mountain, and 18% from Mt. Veeder, one can truly taste the mountain fruit. They crafted only 100 cases, and before bottling, the wine aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels. This patience has been rewarded in the glass with aromas of blackberries, currants, baking spices, and dried flowers. On the palate, bitter chocolate and herbal notes take precedence alongside finely woven tannins and lively acidity.