2011 Dana Estates Helms Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Dana Estates was started in 2005 when Hi Sang Lee, a South Korean businessman and wine importer, bought a winery and vineyard in Rutherford, Napa Valley, and started his own label. Lee built an impressive new winery and named his enterprise Dana, which is Sanskrit for “spirit of generosity.” Lee hired Philippe Melka as his winemaker and the label’s first release was the 2005 vintage. The aim is to make world class Cabernet Sauvignon in very limited quantities of 300 to 400 cases annually, though Lee has said he eventually expects to produce up to 2,000 cases a year. Dana makes three single vineyard Cabs from the Helms, Hershey and Lotus Vineyards. It also makes Onda, a mostly Cabernet Sauvignon blend of grapes from the various vineyards.

Rutherford AVA is just north of the Oakville AVA in the heart of Napa Valley, and it is equally distinguished. It is home to Beaulieu Vineyard and inglenook, arguably Napa Valley’s most historically influential wineries. Inglenook started making in wine in the late 19th century, and Beaulieu Vineyards was producing by the first years of the 20th century. BV founder Georges de Latour is particularly esteemed for having recruited Andre Tchelistcheff, a renowned research oenologist, to move from France to Napa Valley in 1938 and run BV’s winemaking. The legendary Tchelistcheff brought European winemaking techniques to Napa Valley and vastly improved wine quality. Other Rutherford winemakers followed his lead. Today there are 5,000 vineyard acres in Rutherford and many acclaimed producers. The famous Silverado Trail with its exclusive, limited production wineries, runs partly through Rutherford AVA. Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignons are characterized by supple tannins, richness, notes of cherry and plum, depth and the ability to age for several decades. Besides Cabernet Sauvignon the AVA also grows Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel. It received its AVA designation in 1994.

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.