Yes, it is that time of year when harvest is approaching and we are releasing our 2005 Vineyard Designated Wines. Since the release of the 2005 Napa Valley 6 months ago, we have appreciated all the calls, all the excitement and the buzz going around. We also appreciate the new customers who have recently joined the Customer List. With this we are starting to have to allocate these wines (notice the shopping cart). It will be based individually on History and Purchasing of Neal Family Wines.
We have added an online store to our website in order to offer you better service and convenience. I encourage all of you to create a customer account on the website as we are tailoring allocations based on your purchase history as opposed to the blanket allocations for the hard copy order form. The store can be accessed at www.nealvineyards.com under ‘Order’ and you can create an account by clicking ‘Log In’ or by creating an order and selecting ‘Check Out.’ If you would prefer to continue using our paper order form and wish to take advantage of our new personalized allocations, use the ‘request’ line on the form and we will ensure that you receive your maximum requested allotment.
The winemaking team and myself are all in agreement with the Selected Vineyard Designates Cabernet Sauvignon for the 2005 season. Our Six Single Vineyards for the 2005 season are the following: Fifteen Forty (east slope of Howell Mountain); Howell Mountain Estate; Second Chance (Atlas Peak); One Lane Bridge (Mt. Veeder); Rutherford Dust Vineyards; and Wykoff (also from Rutherford). These are 6 of the total 9 vineyards that we use for the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Please visit these vineyards on our website for more history and the location of each. Since our 2001 vintage the vineyard sources have been the same. We believe in continuity, however some vineyards do not make the Selected Single Vineyard program every year. Mother Nature contributes a great deal and can impact the case production on these wines, limiting production based on a high standard of quality.
For those who are new, the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of all nine vineyards after 22-23 months in 80% new French oak barrels. Each vineyard’s wine lot is kept separate to further evaluate the fruit source and allow us to determine what viticultural or enological techniques may be used to improve fruit and wine quality. As we taste and grade each individual barrel over the first 12 months in our caves, we find certain barrels that stand out as the best expression of that particular vineyard. If those barrels continue to show the best characters, we separate those from the remaining barrels destined for the Napa Valley program. These individually selected, 100% new French oak barrels are then set aside for additional aging, up to 30 months before we decide they are ready to bottle. The resulting wines have the true expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon grown in that particular vineyard. The intensity of these aromas and flavors are indications of our commitment to the finest grapes and wines produced from organically grown fruit and natural winemaking techniques: no artificial additives or coloring. For those who haven’t had the chance to experience the differences created by the terroir (where the fruit is grown), these wines give you that opportunity.
On the family side, we all enjoyed a few days of skiing in the Sierra Mountains this last winter. Everyone is up on skis except for Jack (2). Alexios (5) has taken the route of skiing wherever it is possible. Jessica, Zachary and Demitria are also very active on skis, going downhill on black diamond runs. Spring got the older four into baseball. Of course, they were not on the same team, so there was practice everyday of the week and multiple games on weekends too. Summer has brought Zachary into the shop helping to build stainless steel wine racks, which included bending and welding stainless steel. He also helped build a custom sprayer for his ATV so he can spray the organic fungicides on the vines at the winery. Jessica has spent numerous hours working at the office filing papers and making contact cards. It was an honor to have company on my frost mornings with Jessica and Zachary as well. It reminds me of riding with my dad on those cold mornings 40 plus years ago.
All enjoyed our family vacation in Hawaii, where we visited the islands of Hawaii and Maui. We went to the volcano on the big island and the kids got to swim with the dolphins. Rich Olson from Lahaina Grill took the family on a hike of a lifetime that we will never forget. Rich also gave great surf lessons as the kids rode the board to the beach.
Harvest is right around the corner and Jessica, Zachary and Demitria are looking forward to working with Gove and Kelly. This will be the third harvest Jessica and Zachary have been involved in. Those of you who have been up at the winery for tours might have seen them in action. If not, please look at our website for photos.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the wines we have to offer, visits to the tasting room, special events or anything else.
Have a great summer,
Mark J. Neal
For a printable PDF version of this letter, click here.
