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 Order
Our Wines Today
We have received many requests from vine parents asking
whether or not they can purchase our wines without having to adopt
more vines. To honor these overwhelming requests, we are now
making our wines available for purchase. We hope this will
entice more parents to enjoy our wines and continue to experience
our winery and vineyard!
Click here to download our
Wine Order Form.
The Definitions
Many of our friends and visitors to the winery have asked
us why we named our wines Sympa, Scandale, and Violation.
Definintion Sympa
We wanted to create a wine that reflects not only the terroir of
our estate vineyard but the terroir of how we live our lives in
the Napa Valley. For this wine we choose the name Sympa which
simply means congenial, likable and easy-going. Click
here to read the technical notes for this wine.
Defininition Scandale "The Scandal"
The 2000 vintage was our first professional venture into winemaking
and we wanted to share our creation with our friends and family
back in France. During our 2001 New Years Eve Party we thought
it would be fun to put our wine against some well known Bordeaux
wines in a blind tasting which included a 1997 Haut Brion. An overwhelming majority of our close friends and family picked
our wine over the French wines. This will forever be known
as the Scandal or Scandale. Click here to
read the technical notes for this wine.
Definintion Violation
Since we started our family winery in 2000, we have noticed an increase in quality in our Petite Sirah fruit hanging on a few rows of vines within Block #5 of the Estate Vineyard. Previously, most of this fruit was used for rounding out the final blends of Kimberly's and Kristian's Cabernet Sauvignon wines. We've watched these Petite Sirah vines form into beautiful, lush, and rather large clusters each vintage. We thought it would be a shame to not showcase the qualities of the fruit with a special Petite Sirah bottling. For that reason, we have released a 100% Petite Sirah bottling called Violation - an appropriate name that signifies our first deviation from producing strictly Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines. Click here to read the full story and to read the technical notes for this wine click here.
Definintion Séduire "To Be Seduced "
Ever since Peter and Paulette Story founded St. Helena Winery, their son Kristian has been seduced by the beauty of the vines and prospects of crafting a memorable wine of his own creation. It wasn’t long before the wine country lifestyle seduced him enough that he was convinced it was time to make his wine passion a reality. It’s only fitting that he would name his Cabernet Sauvignon wine bottling "Séduire," which means "to be seduced." The fruit for Séduire are sourced from Block # 4 of the St. Helena Winery Estate Vineyard. The wine is aged for 20 months in 65% brand new French Oak barrels and 35% once used French Oak barrels. Séduire is a Cabernet-based blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 2% Petite Syrah, 1% Petite Verdot. Click here to
read the technical notes for this wine.
Definintion Ravenous "To Be Ravaged"
Not to be left out, Peter and Paulette’s daughter Kimberly also caught the “wine bug” while helping her parents out during harvest, bottling, and more. This hands-on experience eventually inspired Kimberly to pursue her own winemaking dreams at St. Helena Winery. But, she wanted to produce a more edgy wine. The grapes for her wine were sourced from Block #3 of the St. Helena Winery Estate Vineyard. This wine is aged for 20 months in 65% brand new French Oak barrels and 35% once used French Oak barrels. After tasting through the finished wine comprised of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Petite Sirah it was quite clear that wine lovers would be “ravaged” by this bottling. It only seemed appropriate that it would be named Ravenous. Click here to read the technical notes for
this wine.
| VINTAGE: |
2005 |
| VARIETAL: |
100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
| VINEYARD: |
St. Helena Winery Estate, Reserve Block
#1 |
| WINEMAKING: |
Fermented with estate native yeast
Cold soak at 50 degrees - 6 days
Maturation period - 12 days
Maceration period - 6 days
Racked only 2 times
Wine chemistry;
- 26.8 Brix at harvest
- 3.69 pH at bottling
- 0.66 TA at bottling
Bottled unfined and unfiltered |
| BARREL AGING: |
20 months in new French Oak Barrels;
- Exclusively
- Taransaud
- Darnajou
- Vicard
- Seguin Moreau and
- Bossuet
|
| ALCOHOL: |
14.93% by volume |
| BOTTLING DATE: |
June 18, 2007 |
TARGETED
RELEASE DATE: |
October 1, 2008 |
| PRODUCTION: |
276 cases |
| WINEMAKER'S NOTES: |
The awesome 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon enjoyed a remarkable 6-day soak as well as a 6-day maceration
on its skins. While the tannin is high, it is barely noticeable given the wine's extraordinary richness, concentration, and seamless texture. The opaque blue/purple color is followed by spectacular
aromatics consisting of crème de cassis, mocha, cherries and blueberries.
This deep, opulent, full-bodied, profound 2005 will rival the Sympa Cabernets from 2001, 2003, and 2004. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025. Sympa, which is already a so-called "cult" wine, seems to have pushed the envelope of quality even higher ... as hard as that is to believe. As always, the truth is in the bottle. Not yet released. |
|
To adopt a
vine click here and
download the Vine Adoption Form.
Click here for 2005 Winemaker Notes |
|
| VINTAGE: |
2005 |
| VARIETAL: |
98% Cabernet Sauvignon
1% Petit Sirah
1% Petit Verdot |
| VINEYARD: |
St. Helena Winery Estate, Block
#3 and #4 |
| WINEMAKING: |
Fermented with Lavin D254 Yeast
Cold soak at 50 degrees - 5 days
Maturation period – 11 days
Maceration period - 4 days
Racked only 4 times
Wine chemistry;
- 25.5 Brix at harvest
- 3.68 pH at bottling
- 0.64 TA at bottling
Bottled unfined and unfiltered |
| BARREL AGING: |
20 months in 85% new and 15% once used French Oak Barrels;
- Exclusively
- Marcel Cadet
- Vicard and
- Seguin Moreau
|
| ALCOHOL: |
14.69% by volume |
| BOTTLING DATE: |
June 18, 2007 |
TARGETED
RELEASE DATE: |
October 1, 2008 |
| PRODUCTION: |
50 cases |
| WINEMAKER'S NOTES: |
The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Scandale exhibits
superb finesse and ripeness, but, atypically for this Napa Valley -styled vintage, it possesses enormous weight and richness. Beautifully rich, full-bodied,
and powerful as well as seamless, it should turn out
to be
a superb example from this grand cru site. Not yet released. |
|
To adopt a
vine click here and
download the Vine Adoption Form.
Click here for 2005 Winemaker Notes |
|
| VINTAGE: |
2005 |
| VARIETAL: |
88% Cabernet Sauvignon
6% Merlot
4% Petite Sirah
2% Petit Verdot
|
| VINEYARD: |
St. Helena Winery Vineyard, Block
#4 |
| WINEMAKING: |
Fermented with French yeast – Lavin D254
Cold soak at 50 degrees – 6 days
Maturation period – 12 days
Maceration period –5 days
Racked only 3 times
Wine chemistry;
- 25.5 Brix at harvest
- 3.74 pH at bottling
- 0.63 TA at bottling
Bottled unfined and unfiltered |
| BARREL AGING: |
20 months in new French
Oak Barrels;
- Exclusively
- Darnajou
- Marcel Cadet
- Seguin Moreau
- Taransaud and
- Vicard
|
| ALCOHOL: |
14.69% by volume |
| BOTTLING DATE: |
June 18, 2007 |
| RELEASE DATE: |
March 1, 2008 |
| PRODUCTION: |
418 cases |
| CELLARING: |
This wine will develop complexity over the next few years. However, it is sufficiently well balanced to enjoy now. |
| WINEMAKER'S NOTES: |
The 2005 Séduire is BIG in fruit, built on crème de cassis, mocha, cherries, currant and blueberries flavors aimed to seduce your every sense; sight, nose and palate. It has a very supple and silky tannin structure and provides a long smooth finish. Anticipated maturity : 2009 – 2020. |
|
To adopt a
vine click here and
download the Vine Adoption Form.
Click here for 2005 Winemaker Notes |
|
| VINTAGE: |
2005 |
| VARIETAL: |
88% Cabernet Sauvignon
11% Petite Sirah
1% Petit Verdot
|
| VINEYARD: |
St. Helena Winery Vineyard, Block
#3 |
| WINEMAKING: |
Fermented with Lavin D254 yeast
Cold soak at 50 degrees – 5 days
Maturation period – 12 days
Maceration period – 4 days
Racked only 3 times
Wine chemistry;
- 25.7 Brix at harvest
- 3.68 pH at bottling
- 0.66 TA at bottling
Bottled unfined and unfiltered |
| BARREL AGING: |
20 months in new and French
Oak Barrels;
- Exclusively
- Marcel Cadet
- Vicard and
- Seguin Moreau
|
| ALCOHOL: |
14.7% by volume |
| BOTTLING DATE: |
June 18, 2007 |
| RELEASE DATE: |
March 1, 2008 |
| PRODUCTION: |
198 cases |
| CELLARING: |
This wine should develop complexity in two years during bottle aging. Suggest that you hold for at
least one year prior to serving. Enjoy this beautiful bold wine! |
| WINEMAKER'S NOTES: |
This 2005 Ravenous is a powerful, sweet and fruity explosion. BIG on fruit, this wine combines the best characteristics of both fruits. The concentrated crème de cassis, licorice, and inky blackberry elicited from the Petite Sirah, mixed with all the power of the mocha, currant, dark chocolate, and blueberry from the Cabernet Sauvignon, with a hint of tobacco creates a smooth and silky tannin structure that finishes well in the palate. Will be at its peak between 2008-2010 |
|
To adopt a
vine click here and
download the Vine Adoption Form.
Click here for 2005 Winemaker Notes |
|
| VINTAGE: |
2005 |
| VARIETAL: |
100% Petite Sirah |
| VINEYARD: |
St. Helena Winery Vineyard, Block
#5 |
| WINEMAKING: |
Fermented with Lavin D254 yeast
Cold soak at 50 degrees – 5 days
Maturation period – 11 days
Maceration period – 4 days
Racked only 4 times
Wine chemistry;
- 25.1 Brix at harvest
- 3.57 pH at bottling
- 0.69 TA at bottling
Bottled unfined and unfiltered |
| BARREL AGING: |
20 months in 2 new and once used French
Oak Barrels;
- Exclusively
- Darnajou and
- Seguin Moreau
|
| ALCOHOL: |
14.2% by volume |
| BOTTLING DATE: |
June 18, 2007 |
TARGETED
RELEASE DATE: |
March 1, 2008 |
| PRODUCTION: |
68 cases |
| WINEMAKER'S NOTES: |
Our 2005 Petite Sirah represents the essence of this varietal. It is an intriguing, provocative effort boasting an inky/purple color as well as a sumptuous nose of graphite intermixed with melted licorice, espresso, chocolate, blackberries, blueberries, and concentrated creme de cassis. Pepper and flower-like aromas are also present, but no oak is noticeable in this massively extracted, phenomenally rich, shockingly well-balanced Petite Sirah. Its purity and palate impression are fantastic. Cellar it for 2-5 years, and drink it over the following decade. |
|
To adopt a
vine click here and
download the Vine Adoption Form.
Click here for 2005 Winemaker Notes |
|
If you would like to download Fact Sheets from past vintages please
click here. |
