“…all done in a forward, sumptuous style that is hugely appealing.” – Vinous

Just when we were looking for something out of the ordinary, we got wind of this VERY extraordinary Napa white. 94 points from Jeb, and made from some of the rarest vines in Napa…

Psst, we also “stole” some library single vineyard Oakville Cab, just a handful of bottles quietly placed here in the Store.

Where were we? Oh, push those bottles of Chardonnay aside for a minute, because this one had us at “Old Vine Chenin.”

It might be hard to believe, but Chenin Blanc – that most beguiling and versatile of Loire Valley grapes – was once a “thing” in Napa Valley. It occupied nearly 2,000 acres of prime vineyard lots in the 1980s. Today? A true rarity (just 18 acres are left in Napa.) What remains are older vines making scant but extremely high-quality fruit.

That rarity attracted star winemaker Jennifer Williams (of Arrow & Branch, Spottswoode) and her husband Mark (of Anomaly and Unwritten), who couldn’t resist using this rare Napa fruit for their personal Zeitgeist Cellars project. With a few 100 pointers under her belt, it’s no surprise how bright this shines.

The results were so good, in fact, that the winemaking power couple wouldn’t even reveal where the grapes were planted!

Can’t say that we blame them, honestly. The nose is pure, unadulterated Chenin, with wet stone, apricot, white flowers, and exotic spice notes of wool, sandalwood, and dried herbs. Only the concentration is spectacularly high (no doubt a result of those older vines making much smaller berries.) The stone fruit action in the mouth comes in alternating waves of richness and minerality that are just mind-blowing. It’s one of those rare whites that still has a decade or more of life left in it.

So, while we can deliver this one to you for significantly less than the sticker price, there’s no telling if we’ll ever be able to do that again.

94 Points – Jeb Dunnuck “Beautiful dried herbs, hay, and crushed citrus notes define the 2023 Chenin Blanc, and it’s round and supple on the palate, with medium-bodied richness, beautiful minerality, concentration, and length. I love its purity and elegance. It should drink nicely over the coming 3-5 years, and it will absolutely shine on the dinner table. Drink 2025-2030.”