Wine Notes & Reviews
| Harvested | October 4th - 22nd, 2010 | Vineyard | Pellet Vineyard® |
| Aging | 22 months, 75% new French Oak | Appellation | St. Helena |
| Bottled | August 22nd, 2012 | Release Price | $85 (750 ml) |
| Alcohol | 14.7% | ||
| Composition | 90% Cabernet Sauvignon 8% Merlot 2% Petit Verdot |
Production | 222 cases 750 ml 10 cases 375 ml 60 Magnums |
Vintage Notes
2010 in Napa Valley was yet another season in paradise. Early rains brought our vines to budbreak right on schedule, followed by cooler than average temperatures thru most of summer. Careful crop and canopy management protected our grapes from the late summer heat spike, and when cooler temperatures returned in late September, the extended hang-time gave our clusters concentrated flavors, dark colors, and an incredible perfume of ripeness. This vintage was harvested under ideal conditions and we consider it outstanding.
Winemaker Notes
We hand sorted our grapes both prior to and after de-stemming, and following a four day whole berry maceration and cold soak, we began primary fermentation. After nearly three weeks, the wine was gently pressed-off and racked to 36 monthaged tight grain French Oak barrels to complete a slow secondary fermentation for another few weeks. After 20 months in barrel, we blended the final wine at the beginning of June and returned the wine to barrel for an additional two months to allow the flavors and components of the individual varietals to marry.
Reviews (scores in parentheses signify barrel samples)
91 - "Dark and lush with notes of coffee and spice; ripe blackberry, cassis and plum; bright, elegant and charming with balance and style; long and impressive." – Anthony Dias Blue, The SOMM Journal, The TASTING PANEL, Blue Lifestyle
90 - "The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Pellet Vineyard offers attractive charcoal and cassis flavors, a pleasant floral characteristic, medium to full body and impressive richness as well as depth. It should drink well for 7-10 years." – Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
93 - "An inaugural release from veteran winemaker Nils Venge, this wine contains small amounts of Merlot and Petit Verdot. It's very dry, quite tannic and rich, with flavors of black cherries, currants and new oak, with an earthy note that adds to the complexity. The mouth-feel is warm and almost Port-like." – Steve Heimoff, Wine Enthusiast / SH
Silver Medal – 2013 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition $60 & over Cabs.
| Harvested | October 3rd - 30th, 2011 | Vineyard | Pellet Vineyard® |
| Aging | 22 months, 75% new French Oak | Appellation | St. Helena |
| Bottled | August 21st, 2013 | Release Price | $85 (750 ml) |
| Alcohol | 14.7% | ||
| Composition | 87% Cabernet Sauvignon 9% Merlot 4% Petit Verdot |
Production | 235 cases (750 ml) 14 cases (375 ml) 72 Magnums |
Vintage Notes
2011 in Napa Valley was a challeging season, with cooler temperatures and October rain. We were fortunate to pick the day before the rain, and again at the end of the month after a second heat spike that provided ideal ripening. This resulted in an opportunity to creat a stellar wine with soft tannins yet strong structure. While the 2011 is approachable early, it has a delightfuly delicate nose, tastes of red and black fruits, chocolate, and attractive charcoal, and should cellar well into the next decade.
Winemaker Notes
We hand sorted our grapes both prior to and after de-stemming, and following a four day whole berry maceration and cold soak, we began primary fermentation. After nearly three weeks, the wine was gently pressed-off and racked to the finest 36 month-aged tight grain French Oak barrels to complete a slow secondary fermentation for another few months. After 20 months in barrel, we blended the final wine at the beginning of June and returned the wine to barrel for an additional two months to allow the flavors and components of the individual varietals to marry.
| Harvested | October 5rd - 19th, 2012 | Vineyard | Pellet Vineyard® |
| Aging | 19 months, 75% new French Oak | Appellation | St. Helena |
| Bottled | May 28th, 2014 | Release Price | $95 (750 ml) |
| Alcohol | 14.7% | ||
| Composition | 91% Cabernet Sauvignon 6% Merlot 3% Petit Verdot |
Production | 370 cases (750 ml) 15 cases (375 ml) 90 Magnums 12 Double Magnums |
Vintage Notes
2012 was a blockbuster near-perfect vintage year, yielding a crop of spectacular fruit that produced a high-structure wine, and should stand out for decades to come. Summer and fall had warm temperatures, but no notable heat waves, which in turn permitted the grapes to reach a very even ripeness. We picked the Cabernet over three days under truly the most ideal conditions in mid-October, and expect 2012 will turn out to be a new pinnacle for our Estate.
Winemaker Notes
We hand sorted our grapes both prior to and after de-stemming, and following a four day whole berry maceration and cold soak, we began primary fermentation. After nearly three weeks, the wine was gently pressed-off and racked to 75% new Darnajou and Tarransaud 36 month-aged tight grain French Oak barrels to complete a slow secondary fermentation for another few months. The intense fruit profile and high tannin structure resulted in us deviating from our prior two year's 22 month barrel aging, as we felt an extra 3 months in barrel would not add significance to the wine's characteristics - it already had the best possible balance of fruit, tannins and oak. After 17 months in barrel, we blended the final wine at the beginning of March and returned the wine to barrel for an additional two months to allow the flavors and components of the individual varietals to marry. This wine will be bottle aged for nearly 18 months before its fall 2015 release.
Reviews (scores in parentheses signify barrel samples)
93 – “Cellar Selection” From a heritage site planted originally in 1859, this wine was made by Nils Venge and contains mostly Cabernet, with a small handful of Merlot and an even smaller pinch of Petit Verdot. Soft yet structured, it’s layered in leathery dark-chocolate and black-fig tones, with juicy components of blackberry and cassis. It should age through 2022. – Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast
92 – “Deep, dark and juicy with firm structure and bright blackberry; rich, balanced and supple with spice and finesse.” – Anthony Dias Blue, The Tasting Panel
91 - "The beautiful 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Pellet Vineyard exhibits lots of blackberry and blueberry fruit, supple tannins, excellent purity and outstanding depth and texture. This is an elegant, medium-bodied wine that can be drunk now or cellared for 10-15 years." – Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
90 - "Tight and structured, with a firm core of dark berry, sage, mineral and cedary oak, ending with gripping tannins and an aftertaste of loamy earth. Drink now through 2026." – James Laube, Wine Spectator
92 – “The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Pellet Vineyard is a delicious, racy Cabernet to drink now and over the next handful of years. Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, spices and sweet vanillin from the oak meld together in a forward, unctuous yet mid-weight wine that delivers the goods. The 2012 is a bit more restrained than the 2013 tasted alongside it.” – Anthony Galloni, Vinous Media
| Harvested | September 14th -October 1st, 2013 | Winemaker | Nils Venge |
| Aging | 20 months, 75% new French Oak | Vineyard | Sunchase Vineyard® |
| Bottled | May 27th, 2015 | Appellation | St. Helena |
| Alcohol | 14.7% | Release Price | $95 (750 ml) |
| Composition | 90% Cabernet Sauvignon (66% Clone 4, 34% Clone 337) 7% Merlot 3% Petit Verdot |
Production | 310 cases 750 ml 16 cases 375 ml 90 Magnums 12 Double Magnums |
Estate Notes
Established in 2010, our Cabernet Sauvignon is hand crafted by the legendary Nils Venge from grapes grown exclusively in our historic Pellet Vineyard®, a site that has been producing grapes for over 150 years. The Pellet Vineyard’s origin begins in 1859, when pioneer winemaker Henry Alphonse Pellet was hired by John Patchett to make wine from his grapes near the city of Napa. Charles Krug had also begun to make wine in 1858, and Henry Pellet became the second commercial wine maker in Napa County. Formally established in 1863, the Pellet Vineyard was among the first vineyards in Napa Valley intended for producing grapes for wine for consumers at large, rather than family & friends. In 1863, Pellet purchased 45 acres of land south of the town of St. Helena next to his neighbor, Dr. G.B. Crane, and planted 38 acres in vineyards. Our label depicts the dawn of the age of electrification, the era when Pellet illuminated the path towards modern methodology, and with it, the high quality and age-worthy wines that define Napa Valley.
Wintage Notes
2013 was another near-perfect vintage, perhaps surpassing 2012, yielding a crop of smaller-berried fruit that produced a intense wine, and should stand out for decades to come. Compared to last year, 2013 produced smaller berries, which means a higher ratio of skins to juice, leading to higher levels of color and tannin. We had one heat spike in late June/early July, and the weather was generally dry, warm even and consistent throughout the season. We picked the Cabernet over three days under truly the most ideal conditions in late September, and expect 2013 will turn out to be yet another new pinnacle for our Estate - back to back stellar vintages for 2012 and 2013 in our opinion, with 2013 having a bit of an edge at the moment.
Winemaker Notes
We hand sorted our grapes both prior to and after de-stemming, and following a four day whole berry maceration and cold soak, we began primary fermentation. After nearly three weeks, the wine was gently pressed-off and racked to 75% new Darnajou and Tarransaud 36 month-aged tight grain French Oak barrels to complete a slow secondary fermentation for another few months. This wine is still in barrel under development, is showing amazing saturation of color, and as with 2012, will be bottle aged for around 18 months before its fall 2016 release.
Reviews (scores in parentheses signify barrel samples)
94 – “Editor's Choice” This single-vineyard estate wine is made by Nils Venge and Tom Rinaldi, who have somehow managed to capture quiet elegance and powerful fruit at the same time. Red-fruit driven, it's round and rich, with moderate tannin and cassis, clove and black pepper highlights. – Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast
92 – “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Pellet Vineyard is dark, unctuous and racy from start to finish. Super-ripe blackberry, mocha, plum, new leather, cloves and sweet oak give the 2013 its flamboyant personality. This is a relatively approachable wine for the vintage that will drink well with minimal cellaring. The sweet, forward style will appeal most to readers who enjoy opulent Cabernets. Ripe, silky tannins wrap around the voluptuous finish.” – Anthony Galloni, Vinous Media
90+ – “The attractive 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Pellet Vineyard is from a relatively historic site, first planted in 1863. The wine has a dense ruby/purple color, plenty of blackberry and cassis fruit, a touch of oak and earth. It's medium to full-bodied, moderately tannic and would benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring. It should last 20 or more years.” – Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
90 - "A powerful expression of extracted blackberry, dusty earth, cedary oak and crushed rock. Although the flavors are separate now they are well-proportioned. Should they come together at the right time, this could be special. Best from 2020 through 2030. 345 cases made.." – James Laube, Wine Spectator
94 – “Lush berry nose; silky texture and bright plum and black raspberry fruit; elegant, bright and smooth with core of fresh acidity; seamless and rich, long and balanced.” – Anthony Dias Blue, The Tasting Panel
| Harvested | October 5rd - 19th, 2012 | Vineyard | Pellet Vineyard® |
| Aging | 19 months, 100% new French Oak | Appellation | St. Helena |
| Bottled | May 28th, 2014 | Release Price | $115 |
| Alcohol | 14.7% | ||
| Composition |
12% Cabernet Sauvignon 3% Merlot 85% Petit Verdot |
Production | 25 cases (750 ml) |
Estate Notes
Pellet Estate produces Chardonnay from the Sunchase Vineyard, and Cabernet Sauvignon from grapes grown exclusively in our historic Pellet Vineyard®, a site that has been producing grapes for over 150 years. The Pellet Vineyard’s origin begins in 1859, when pioneer winemaker Henry Alphonse Pellet was hired by John Patchett to make wine from his grapes near the city of Napa. Charles Krug had also begun to make wine in 1858, and Henry Pellet became the second commercial wine maker in Napa County. Formally established in 1863, the Pellet Vineyard was among the first vineyards in Napa Valley intended for producing grapes for wine for consumers at large, rather than family & friends. In 1863, Pellet purchased 45 acres of land south of the town of St. Helena next to his neighbor, Dr. G.B. Crane, and planted 38 acres in vineyards. Our label depicts the dawn of the age of electrification, the era when Pellet illuminated the path towards modern viticultural and winemaking methodology, and with it, the high quality and age-worthy wines that define Napa Valley.
Vintage Notes
2012 was a blockbuster near-perfect vintage year, yielding a crop of spectacular fruit that produced a high-structure wine, and should stand out for decades to come. Summer and fall had warm temperatures, but no notable heat waves, which in turn permitted the grapes to reach a very even ripeness. We picked the Cabernet over three days under truly the most ideal conditions in mid-October, and expect 2012 will turn out to be a new pinnacle for our Estate.
Winemaking Notes
We hand sorted our grapes both prior to and after de-stemming, and following a four day whole berry maceration and cold soak, we began primary fermentation. After nearly three weeks, the wine was gently pressed-off and racked to 100% newDarnajou and Tarransaud 36 month-aged tight grain French Oak barrels to complete a slow secondary fermentation for another few months. The intense fruit profile and high tannin structure resulted in us deviating from our prior two year’s 22 month barrel aging, as we felt an extra 3 months in barrel would not add significance to the wine’s characteristics - it already had the best possible balance of fruit, tannins and oak. After 17 months in barrel, we blended the final wine at the beginning of March and returned the wine to barrel for an additional two months to allow the flavors and components of the individual varietals to marry. This year’s Reserve yielded a single barrel, blended from selections from the top barrels in our progam.
| Harvested | September 14th - October 1st, 2013 | Vineyard | Pellet Vineyard® |
| Aging | 20 months, 100% new French Oak | Appellation | St. Helena |
| Bottled | May 27th, 2015 | Release Price | $125 |
| Alcohol | 14.7% | ||
| Composition | 80% Merlot 20% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Production | 30 cases (750 ml) |
Estate Notes
Pellet Estate produces Chardonnay from the Sunchase Vineyard, and Cabernet Sauvignon from grapes grown exclusively inour historic Pellet Vineyard®, a site that has been producing grapes for over 150 years. The Pellet Vineyard’s origin begins in 1859, when pioneer winemaker Henry Alphonse Pellet was hired by John Patchett to make wine from his grapes near the cityof Napa. Charles Krug had also begun to make wine in 1858, and Henry Pellet became the second commercial wine maker in Napa County. Formally established in 1863, the Pellet Vineyard was among the first vineyards in Napa Valley intended for producing grapes for wine for consumers at large, rather than family & friends. In 1863, Pellet purchased 45 acres of land south of the town of St. Helena next to his neighbor, Dr. G.B. Crane, and planted 38 acres in vineyards. Our label depicts the dawn of the age of electrification, the era when Pellet illuminated the path towards modern viticultural and winemaking methodology, and with it, the high quality and age-worthy wines that define Napa Valley.
Vintage Notes
2013 was another near-perfect vintage, perhaps surpassing 2012, yielding a crop of smaller-berried fruit that produced a intense wine, and should stand out for decades to come. Compared to last year, 2013 produced smaller berries, which means a higher ratio of skins to juice, leading to higher levels of color and tannin. We had one heat spike in late June/early July, and the weather was generally dry, warm even and consistent throughout the season. We picked the Cabernet over three days under truly the most ideal conditions in late September, and expect 2013 will turn out to be yet another new pinnacle for our Estate - back to back stellar vintages for 2012 and 2013 in our opinion, with 2013 having a bit of an edge at the moment.
Winemaking Notes
We hand sorted our grapes both prior to and after de-stemming, and following a four day whole berry maceration and cold soak, we began primary fermentation. After nearly three weeks, the wine was gently pressed-off and racked to 100% new Darnajou and Tarransaud 36 month-aged tight grain French Oak barrels to complete a slow secondary fermentation for another few months. This year’s Reserve features the standout Merlot, and yielded a bit more than a single barrel, hand blended from selections from the top barrels in our progam.
Reviews (scores in parentheses signify barrel samples)
92 - "The 2013 Henry's Reserve (80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon) has beautifully sweet tannin, lots of coffee and mocha, and a plump voluptuous texture. This is a hedonistic and appealing wine with a deep ruby/purple color, plenty of flesh, fruit and purity. It is well done and best drunk over the next decade." Drink now through 2035– Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
91 – “The 2013 Henry's Reserve Pellet Vineyard, a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, is laced with the essence of raspberry jam, white truffle, new leather, chocolate and mocha. A wine of extravagant richness and intensity, the 2013 will drink well right out of the gate.” – Anthony Galloni, Vinous Media
92 – “This special cuvée shows more freshness and focus than the regular bottle. Plum, spice and chocolate character with silky tannins and a voluptuous finish. Drink or hold.” – James Suckling
| Harvested | September 2nd & September 27th, 2014 | Winemaker | Tom Rinaldi |
| Aging | 21 months, 100% new French Oak | Vineyard | Sunchase Vineyard® |
| Bottled | June 20th, 2016 | Appellation | St. Helena |
| Alcohol | 14.7% | Release Price | $125 |
| Composition | 85% Cabernet Sauvignon 15% Merlot |
Production | 41 cases 750 ml |
Estate Notes
Pellet Estate produces Chardonnay from the Sunchase Vineyard, and Cabernet Sauvignon from grapes grown exclusively in our historic Pellet Vineyard®, a site that has been producing grapes for over 150 years.The Pellet Vineyard’s origin begins in 1859, when pioneer winemaker Henry Alphonse Pellet was hired by John Patchett to make wine from his grapes near the city of Napa. Charles Krug had also begun to make wine in 1858, and Henry Pellet became the second commercial wine maker in Napa County. Formally established in 1863, the Pellet Vineyard was among the first vineyards in Napa Valley intended for producing grapes for wine for consumers at large, rather than family & friends. In 1863, Pellet purchased 45 acres of land south of the town of St. Helena next to his neighbor, Dr. G.B. Crane, and planted 38 acres in vineyards. Our label depicts the dawn of the age of electrification, the era when Pellet illuminated the path towards modern viticultural and winemaking methodology, and with it, the high qulity and age-worthy wines that define Napa Valley.
Wintage Notes
2014 was another near-perfect vintage, perhaps surpassing 2013, yielding a crop of concentrated fruit that produced a intense wine, and should stand out for decades to come. Compared to last year, 2014 produced smaller than average berries, which means a higher ratio of skins to juice, leading to higher levels of color and tannin. We had one heat spike in late June/early July, and the weather was generally dry, warm even and consistent throughout the season. We picked the Cabernet under the most ideal conditions in late September, and expect 2014 will turn out to be yet another new pinnacle for our Estate - triple back to back stellar vintages for 2012, 2013 and 2014 in our opinion, with 2014 having a bit of an edge at the moment.
Winemaker Notes
We hand sorted our grapes both prior to and after de-stemming, and following a four day whole berry maceration and cold soak, we began primary fermentation. After nearly three weeks, the wine was gently pressed-off and racked to 100% new Darnajou and Ermitage 36 month-aged tight grain French Oak barrels to complete a slow secondary fermentation for anoth-er few months. This year’s Reserve features 85% Cabernet Sauvignon (50/50 Clones 4 & 337), and 15% Merlot, which yielded almost two barrels, then hand blended from the top barrels in our progam.
Reviews (scores in parentheses signify barrel samples)
95 - "Dark and rich with ripe berry fruit; smooth and juicy, rich and dense with tangy fruit, bright acidity and vanilla oak; Deep, lush and elegant." – Anthony Dias Blue, Blue Lifestyle
(90) – “The 2014 Henry's Reserve is cut from the same cloth as the 2013. It's luscious and easygoing, with low acid, red and black fruits, toffee and mocha all present in this sex-bomb of a dry red wine. Drink it over the next 7-8 years.” – Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
| Harvested | September 9th - 12th, 2013 | Vineyard | Sunchase Vineyard® |
| Aging | 16 months, 30% new French Oak | Appellation | Petaluma Gap, Sonoma Coast |
| Bottled | March 13, 2015 | Release Price | $68 (750 ml) |
| Alcohol | 14.8% | ||
| Composition | 80% Chardonnay Clone 95 20% Chardonnay Clone 124 3.38 pH |
Production | 173 cases (750 ml) 60 Magnums |
Tasting Notes
Crystal clear with lemon yellow hues. Expressive aromas over flow the glass with pears, pineapple and apple blossom. On the palate this wine displays a silky texture that glides across the mouth seamlessly intertwining flavors of pineapple, honeydew melon and early season nectarines with more savory notes of Gravalstien apples and cut hay. There is a creamy almost almond like note underlying the high fruit flavors, providing depth and complexity on the finish.
Winemaker Notes
Harvested in early September from vineyards overlooking the Petaluma Gap, the fruit was picked in pristine condition. After hand sorting the grapes, the grapes were pressed whole cluster, releasing the juice that was racked to tank and allowed to cold settle for 24hours. The juice was then inoculated with a yeast strain isolated from the Cote de Beaune, France and racked to 36 month-aged tight grain French Oak barrels for primary fermentation, followed by a very slow secondary Malolactic fermentation over the next 6 months. The lees were stirred regularly in the first five months, giving mouth feel and texture to the wine. This wine represents the finest and purest hand crafted expression of our chardonnay vineyard and while is beautiful to enjoy right away, it will benefit from extended cellaring into the next decade.
Reviews (scores in parentheses signify barrel samples)
93 – “Editor’s Choice” A heady mixture of lemon custard and baked pear marks the entry to this full-bodied, deliciously decadent wine, from a high-elevation site above the Petaluma Gap. Honeyed aromas maintain themselves in the glass, accented in floral honeysuckle and ginger. Lovely and generous, it softens as it goes – Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast
93 – “A rich, powerful effort, with intense peach, tropical fruit, citrus, smoky, toasty oak and a long, vibrant finish. Impressive extract imparts serious drive. Drink now through 2020.” – James Laube, Wine Spectator
93 – “Lush, rich and deep with juicy acidity and lovely structure; long, intense and elegant with silky texture; long and classic.” – Anthony Dias Blue, The Tasting Panel
94 – “In contrast to the 2013 Unoaked, the 2013 Chardonnay Sun Chase Vineyards has a slightly richer style with a hint of hazelnut and brioche, medium to full body and comes across like a premier cru or possibly a grand cru from Puligny Montrachet. It has loads of minerality, good acidity and plenty of flesh and richness. This is impressive wine and should drink well for up to a decade." Drink now through 2026– Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
92 - "A more overt range of tropical-inflected notes emerge from the 2013 Chardonnay Sun Chase Vineyard. Mango, peach, butter, spice and French oak nuances are laced together in a deeply expressive, layered Chardonnay that impresses for its overall balance and sense of harmony." Anthony Galloni, Vinous Media
90 – “A white with lots of sliced apple, pear and vanilla cream aromas and flavors. Full body, yogurt and apple pie character. Fruity finish. The lemon aftertaste gives it complexity.” – James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com
| Harvested | September 8th, 2014 | Winemaker | Robin Akhurst |
| Aging | 16 months, 30% new French Oak | Vineyard | Sunchase Vineyard® |
| Bottled | March 22, 2016 | Appellation | Petaluma Gap, Sonoma Coast |
| Alcohol | 14% | Release Price | $68 (750 ml) |
| Composition | 100% Chardonnay Clone 95 3.46 pH |
Production | 150 cases 750 ml 60 Magnums |
Estate Notes
Pellet Estate produces Chardonnay from the Sunchase Vineyard, and Cabernet Sauvignon from grapes grown exclusively in our historic Pellet Vineyard®, a site that has been producing grapes for over 150 years. The Pellet Vineyard’s origin begins in 1859, when pioneer winemaker Henry Alphonse Pellet was hired by John Patchett to make wine from his grapes near the city of Napa. Charles Krug had also begun to make wine in 1858, and Henry Pellet became the second commercial wine maker in Napa County. Formally established in 1863, the Pellet Vineyard was among the first vineyards in Napa Valley intended for producing grapes for wine for consumers at large, rather than family & friends. In 1863, Pellet purchased 45 acres of land south of the town of St. Helena next to his neighbor, Dr. G.B. Crane, and planted 38 acres in vineyards. Our label depicts the dawn of the age of electrification, the era when Pellet illuminated the path towards modern viticultural and winemaking methodology, and with it, the high quality and age-worthy wines that define Napa Valley.
Tasting Notes
Crystal clear with lemon yellow hues. Expressive aromas over flow the glass with pears, pineapple and apple blossom. On the palate this wine displays a silky texture that glides across the mouth seamlessly intertwining flavors of pineapple, honeydew melon and early season nectarines with more savory notes of Gravalstien apples and cut hay. There is a creamy almost almond like note underlying the high fruit flavors, providing depth and complexity on the finish.
Winemaker Notes
Harvested in early September from vineyards overlooking the Petaluma Gap, the fruit was picked in pristine condition. After hand sorting the grapes, the grapes were pressed wholecluster, releasing the juice that was racked to tank and allowed to cold settle for 24 hours. The juice was then inoculated with a yeast strain isolated from the Cote de Beaune, France and racked to 36 month-aged tight grain French Oak barrels for primary fermentation, followed by a very slow secondary Malolactic fer-mentation over the next 6 months. The lees were stirred regularly in the first five months, giving mouth feel and texture to the wine. This wine represents the finest and purest hand crafted expression of our chardonnay vineyard and while is beauti-ful to enjoy right away, it will benefit from extended cellaring into the next decade.
Reviews (scores in parentheses signify barrel samples)
94 – “Editor’s Choice” "This is another stunner from Pellet Estate, from a high-elevation vineyard within the proposed Petaluma Gap appellation, which is highly influenced by fog and wind. Wet stone notes and a crisp, lemony acidity suggest freshness, neither detracting from body or texture." – Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast
92 – “Pellet's 2014 Chardonnay Sun Chase Vineyard is laced with tropical fruit, orange blossom, mint, vanillin and buttery notes. Despite its richness, this barrel-fermented Chardonnay retains good brightness and freshness, not to mention impeccable overall balance.” – Anthony Galloni, Vinous Media
91 – “The 2014 Chardonnay Sun Chase Vineyards shows a slightly more strawish light-gold color than the 2013. The wine has plenty of lemon oil, white peach and a touch of honeysuckle in a medium to full-bodied stylish and Burgundian style. This is impressive and should turn out to be close in quality to the 2013.” – Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
93 – “Juicy and elegant, lush and balanced with ripe pear and tangy acidity; toasty oak notes and soft, silky texture; long and bright with depth and lots of charm.” – Anthony Dias Blue, The Tasting Panel
| Harvested | September 12th, 2013 | Vineyard | Sunchase Vineyard® |
| Aging | 8 months, Stainless Steel | Appellation | Sonoma Coast |
| Bottled | May 28th, 2014 | Release Price | $36 (750 ml) |
| Alcohol | 14.5% | ||
| Composition | 100% Chardonnay Clone 124 3.39 pH |
Production | 84 cases (750 ml) |
Tasting Notes
Crystal clear with lemon yellow hues. Expressive aromas over flow the glass with pears, pineapple and apple blossom. On the palate this wine displays a silky texture that glides across the mouth seamlessly intertwining flavors of pineapple, honeydew melon and early season nectarines with more savory notes of Gravalstien apples and cut hay. There is a creamy almost almond like note underlying the high fruit flavors, providing depth and complexity on the finish.
Winemaker Notes
Harvested in mid-September from vineyards overlooking the Petaluma Gap, the fruit was picked in pristine condition. After hand sorting the grapes, the grapes were pressed wholecluster, releasing the juice that was racked to tank and allowed to cold settle for 24hours. The juice was then racked to stainless steel barrels and inoculated with a yeast strain isolated from the Cote de Beaune, France. Following a slow and cool primary fermentation, the chardonnay was then prevented from going through Malolactic fermentation. The lees were stirred regularly in the first three months, giving mouth feel and texture to the wine. Prior to bottling the wine was gently filtered and allowed to rest in tank. It represents a pure expression of our chardonnay vineyard and is beautiful to enjoy right away.
Reviews (scores in parentheses signify barrel samples)
90 - "Attractive notes of lemon blossom, tangerine oil and melon jump from the glass of the 2013 Chardonnay Sunchase Vineyard Un-oaked. With nice body, good purity and plenty of personality and character, it should drink well for 5-6 years. It proves that Chardonnay does not need oak to taste good. Pellet Estate's two cuvées of Chardonnay give consumers a choice between oaked and un-oaked versions. This vineyard is situated at a 900 to 1,400 foot elevation in the Petaluma Wind Gap, a cool-climate site." – Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
91 - "Pellet's 2013 Chardonnay Sun Chase Vineyard Un-oaked is gorgeous. Orange peel, spice, mint and lightly honeyed notes meld together in a classy, understated wine long on class and personality. This is a terrific showing from Pellet and winemaker Robin Akhurst." Anthony Galloni, Vinous Media
92 - "Smooth and mellow with ripe fruit and juicy with intensity and depth; precise and lovely with seamless style and great finesse; you won't miss the oak." – Anthony Dias Blue, The SOMM Journal, The TASTING PANEL, Blue Lifestyle
| Harvested | September 12th, 2014 | Vineyard | Sunchase Vineyard® |
| Aging | 8 months, Stainless Steel | Appellation | Petaluma Gap, Sonoma Coast |
| Bottled | May 21st, 2015 | Release Price | $36 (750 ml) |
| Alcohol | 14.5% | ||
| Composition | 100% Chardonnay Clone 1244 3.36 pH |
Production | 140 cases (750 ml) |
Tasting Notes
Crisp, crystal clear with lemon yellow hues. Expressive aromas over flow the glass with pears, pineapple and apple blossom. On the palate this wine displays a silky texture that glides across the mouth seamlessly intertwining flavors of pineapple, honeydew melon and early season nectarines with more savory notes of Gravalstien apples and cut hay. There is a creamy almost almond like note underlying the high fruit flavors, providing depth and complexity on the finish.
Winemaker Notes
Harvested in mid-September from vineyards overlooking the Petaluma Gap, the fruit was picked at optimal development. After hand sorting the grapes three times, the grapes were pressed whole cluster, and was then racked to tank and allowed to cold settle for 24-48 hours. The juice was then racked to stainless steel barrels and inoculated with a yeast strain isolated from the Cote de Beaune, France. Following a slow and cool primary fermentation, the chardonnay was then prevented from going through Malolactic fermentation. The lees were stirred regularly and frequently, giving mouth feel and texture to the wine. Prior to bottling the wine was lightly filtered and allowed to rest in tank. It represents a pure expression of the vineyard and is beautiful to enjoy right away.
Reviews (scores in parentheses signify barrel samples)
96 – “This is an OMG wine for me, the best the Petaluma Gap has to offer. Grown in elevations from 900 to 1,400 feet, it is intensely voluptuous from nose to palate. Lemon sugar cookies and freshpineapple and peaches are juiced to order. Towards the middle, the vanilla–white tea comes in, with a white floral finish that dazzles."– Meridith May, The Tasting Panel Magazine
93 – “From a beautiful site overlooking the Petaluma Gap, this wine opens in pretty honeysuckle aromas before unfurling clean, focused flavors of green-apple slices, lemon meringue and a touch of anise. Bright acidity is left to shine without the intrusion of oak, and yet the texture doesn't suffer, offering plenty of velvety smoothness." – Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast
91 - "The 2014 Chardonnay Unoaked Sun Chase Vineyards is a beautiful wine with a light-straw color, crushed-rock minerality, notes of citrus blossom, honeysuckle and orange marmalade. The acidity is great, the purity is terrific, the wine medium to full-bodied and totally delicious. Drink it over the next several years."– Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
92 – “The 2014 Un-Oaked Chardonnay Sun Chase Vineyard is bold and intense to the core, with tremendous depth and overall structure. Striking and distinctive, the 2014 favors the more citrus driven and savory side of Chardonnay, although there is plenty of depth and overall intensity in the glass.” – Anthony Galloni, Vinous Media
92 – “A bright and fresh chardonnay with sliced apple, pineapple and peach aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, bright acidity and a clean and fruity finish. The crispness and precision makes this. Drink now. Screw cap.” – James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com
| Harvested | September 12th, 2015 | Winemaker | Robin Akhurst |
| Aging | 8 months, Stainless Steel | Vineyard | Sunchase Vineyard® |
| Bottled | June 20th, 2016 | Appellation | Sonoma Coast/Petaluma Gap |
| Alcohol | 14.5% | Release Price | $36 |
| Composition | 100% Chardonnay Clone 124 3.25 pH |
Production | 128 cases (750 ml) |
Estate Notes
Pellet Estate produces Chardonnay from the Sunchase Vineyard, and Cabernet Sauvignon from grapes grown exclusively in our historic Pellet Vineyard®, a site that has been producing grapes for over 150 years.The Pellet Vineyard’s origin begins in 1859, when pioneer winemaker Henry Alphonse Pellet was hired by John Patchett to make wine from his grapes near the city of Napa. Charles Krug had also begun to make wine in 1858, and Henry Pellet became the second commercial wine maker in Napa County. Formally established in 1863, the Pellet Vineyard was among the first vineyards in Napa Valley intended for producing grapes for wine for consumers at large, rather than family & friends. In 1863, Pellet purchased 45 acres of land south of the town of St. Helena next to his neighbor, Dr. G.B. Crane, and planted 38 acres in vineyards. Our label depicts the dawn of the age of electrification, the era when Pellet illuminated the path towards modern viticultural and winemaking methodology, and with it, the high quality and age-worthy wines that define Napa Valley.
Tasting Notes
Crisp, crystal clear with lemon yellow hues. Expressive aromas over flow the glass with pears, pineapple and apple blossom. On the palate this wine displays a silky texture that glides across the mouth seamlessly intertwining flavors of pineapple, honeydew melon and early season nectarines with more savory notes of Gravalstien apples and cut hay. There is a creamy almost almond like note underlying the high fruit flavors, providing depth and complexity on the finish.
Winemaking Notes
Harvested in mid-September from vineyards overlooking the Petaluma Gap, the fruit was picked at optimal development. After hand sorting the grapes three times, the grapes were pressed whole cluster, and was then racked to tank and allowed to cold settle for 24-48 hours. The juice was then racked to stainless steel barrels and inoculated with a yeast strain isolated from the Cote de Beaune, France. Following a slow and cool primary fermentation, the chardonnay was then prevented from going through Malolactic fermentation. The lees were stirred regularly and frequently, giving mouth feel and texture to the wine. Prior to bottling the wine was lightly filtered and allowed to rest in tank. It represents a pure expression of the vine-yard and is beautiful to enjoy right away.
| Harvested | September 2nd, 2014 | Winemaker | Tom Rinaldi |
| Aging | 21 months, 100% new French Oak | Vineyard | Pellet Vineyard® |
| Bottled | June 20th, 2016 | Appellation | St. Helena |
| Alcohol | 14.7% | Release Price | $75 |
| Composition | 100% Merlot | Production | 28 cases 750 ml |
Estate Notes
Pellet Estate produces Chardonnay from the Sunchase Vineyard, and Cabernet Sauvignon from grapes grown exclusively in our historic Pellet Vineyard® a site that has been producing grapes for over 150 years. The Pellet Vineyard’s origin begins in 1859, when pioneer winemaker Henry Alphonse Pellet was hired by John Patchett to make wine from his grapes near the city of Napa. Charles Krug had also begun to make wine in 1858, and Henry Pellet became the second commercial wine maker in Napa County. Formally established in 1863, the Pellet Vineyard was among the first vineyards in Napa Valley intended for producing grapes for wine for consumers at large, rather than family & friends. In 1863, Pellet purchased 45 acres of land south of the town of St. Helena next to his neighbor, Dr. G.B. Crane, and planted 38 acres in vineyards. Our label depicts the dawn of the age of electrification, the era when Pellet illuminated the path towards modern viticultural and winemaking methodology, and with it, the high quality and age-worthy wines that define Napa Valley.
Vintage Notes
2014 was another near-perfect vintage, perhaps surpassing 2013, yielding a crop of concentrated fruit that produced a intense wine, and should stand out for decades to come. Compared to last year, 2014 produced smaller than average berries, which means a higher ratio of skins to juice, leading to higher levels of color and tannin. We had one heat spike in late June/early July, and the weather was generally dry, warm even and consistent throughout the season. We picked the Merlot the earliest ever, yet still under the most ideal conditions in early September, and expect 2014 will turn out to be yet another new pinnacle for our Estate - triple back to back stellar vintages for 2012, 2013 and 2014 in our opinion, with 2014 having a bit of an edge at the moment.
Winamaking Notes
We hand sorted our grapes both prior to and after de-stemming, and following a four day whole berry maceration and cold soak, we began primary fermentation. After nearly three weeks, the wine was gently pressed-off and racked to 100% new Tarransaud 36 month-aged tight grain French Oak barrels to complete a slow secondary fermentation for another few months. This year’s inagural Merlot is pure Merlot, which yielded just over one barrel.
Reviews (scores in parentheses signify barrel samples)
94 – “Bright and juicy with plum and black raspberry; crisp, elegant and nicely delineated; silky texture and lovely balance; long, deep and lovely.” – Anthony Dias Blue, The Tasting Panel
| Harvested | October 1st, 2014 | WineMaker | Robin Akhurst |
| Aging | 8 months, Stainless Steel | Vineyard | Pellet Vineyard® |
| Bottled | May 27th, 2015 | Appellation | St. Helena |
| Alcohol | 14.5% | Release Price | $30 (750 ml) |
| Composition | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon | Production | 30 cases 750 ml |
Estate Notes
Established in 2010, Pellet Estate produces Chardonnay from the Sunchase Vineyard, and Cabernet Sauvignon from grapes grown exclusively in our historic Pellet Vineyard®, a site that has been producing grapes for over 150 years. The Pellet Vineyard’s origin begins in 1859, when pioneer winemaker Henry Alphonse Pellet was hired by John Patchett to make wine from his grapes near the city of Napa. Charles Krug had also begun to make wine in 1858, and Henry Pellet became the second commercial wine maker in Napa County. Formally established in 1863, the Pellet Vineyard was among the first vineyards in Napa Valley intended for producing grapes for wine for consumers at large, rather than family & friends. In 1863, Pellet purchased 45 acres of land south of the town of St. Helena next to his neighbor, Dr. G.B. Crane, and planted 38 acres in vineyards. Our label depicts the dawn of the age of electrification, the era when Pellet illuminated the path towards modern viticultural and winemaking methodology, and with it, the high quality and age-worthy wines that define Napa Valley.
Tasting Notes
Ruby red clear with deep hues. Expressive aromas over flow the glass with strawberry, rubarb and light raspberry . On the palate this wine displays a silky texture that glides across the mouth seamlessly intertwining flavors of berries and dark cherry blossom. This is a crisp and dry rose with a medium body and high fruit flavors, providing depth and complexity on the finish.
Winamaking Notes
2014 was another near-perfect vintage, perhaps surpassing 2013, yielding a crop of smaller-berried fruit that produced a intense wine, and as a vintage should really stand out. Compared to last year, 2014 produced similar small berries, which means a higher ratio of skins to juice, leading to higher levels of color and tannin. We had one heat spike in late June/early July, and the weather was generally dry, warm even and consistent throughout the season. We picked the Cabernet over three days under truly the most ideal conditions in late September, and expect 2013 will turn out to be yet another new pinnacle for our Estate - back to back stellar vintages for 2013 and 2014 in our opinion, with 2014 having a bit of an edge at the moment.
| Harvested | September 27th, 2015 | WineMaker | Tom Rinaldi |
| Aging | 8 months, Stainless Steel | Vineyard | Pellet Vineyard® |
| Bottled | June 20th, 2016 | Appellation | St. Helena |
| Alcohol | 12.7% | Release Price | $30 (750 ml) |
| Composition | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon | Production | 56 cases 750 ml |
Estate Notes
Established in 2010, Pellet Estate produces Chardonnay from the Sunchase Vineyard, and Cabernet Sauvignon from grapes grown exclusively in our historic Pellet Vineyard®, a site that has been producing grapes for over 150 years. The Pellet Vineyard’s origin begins in 1859, when pioneer winemaker Henry Alphonse Pellet was hired by John Patchett to make wine from his grapes near the city of Napa. Charles Krug had also begun to make wine in 1858, and Henry Pellet became the second commercial wine maker in Napa County. Formally established in 1863, the Pellet Vineyard was among the first vineyards in Napa Valley intended for producing grapes for wine for consumers at large, rather than family & friends. In 1863, Pellet purchased 45 acres of land south of the town of St. Helena next to his neighbor, Dr. G.B. Crane, and planted 38 acres in vineyards. Our label depicts the dawn of the age of electrification, the era when Pellet illuminated the path towards modern viticultural and winemaking methodology, and with it, the high quality and age-worthy wines that define Napa Valley.
Tasting Notes
Dark Ruby Red, clear with deep hues. Expressive aromas over flow the glass with strawberry, rubarb and light raspberry. On the palate this wine displays a silky texture that glides across the mouth seamlessly intertwining flavors of berries and dark cherry blossom. This is a crisp and dry rose with a medium body and high fruit flavors, providing depth and complexity on the finish.
Winamaking Notes
2015 was another near-perfect vintage, perhaps surpassing the past 3 years, yielding a tiny crop of smaller-berried fruit that produced a intense wine, and as a vintage should really stand out. Compared to last year, 2015 produced super small berries, which means a higher ratio of skins to juice, leading to higher levels of color and tannin. We had one heat spike in late June/early July, and the weather was generally dry, warm even and consistent throughout the season. We picked the Cabernet under the most ideal conditions in late September, and expect 2015 will turn out to be yet another new pinnacle for our Estate - back to back stellar vintages from 2012 to 2015 in our opinion, with 2015 having a bit of an edge at the moment.