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Napa Valley

Napa Valley AVA is the most famous winemaking region in the United States and one of the most prestigious in the world. With nearly 43,000 acres of vineyards and more than 300 wineries, it is the heart of fine wine production in the United States. Winemaking started in Napa in 1838 when George C. Yount planted grapes and began producing wine commercially. Other winemaking pioneers followed in the late 19th century, including the founders of Charles Krug, Schramsberg, Inglenook and Beaulieu Vineyards. An infestation of phylloxera, an insect that attacks vine roots, and the onset of Prohibition nearly wiped out the nascent Napa wine industry in the early 20th century. But by the late 1950s and early 1960s Robert Mondavi and other visionaries were producing quality wines easily distinguishable from the mass-produced jug wines made in California’s Central Valley. Napa Valley’s AVA was established in 1983, and today there are 16 sub-appellations within the Napa Valley AVA. Many grapes grow well in Napa’s Mediterranean climate, but the region is best known for Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay is also very successfully cultivated, and about 30% of the AVA’s acreage is planted to white grapes, with the majority of those grapes being Chardonnay,

1965 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; lightly elevated cork; light signs of past seepage; base neck fill; label condition issue; light writing on label

1965 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; very top shoulder fill; label condition issue; light writing on label

1966 Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; 3.5 cm ullage; label condition issue

1974 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; very top shoulder fill; label condition issue

MB  ****   

1977 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

1-bottle Lot, Wood Case, 1.5ltr

Capsule condition issue; lightly elevated cork; label condition issue; Case condition issue

WS  90   

1980 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; light label condition issue

WS  94   

1980 Shafer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; light signs of past seepage; very top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

1980 Shafer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

1980 Inglenook Rubicon

1.5ltr

Light capsule condition issue; label condition issue; signed bottle

WS  92   

1981 Heitz Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; very top shoulder fill; light label condition issue; light writing on label

1981 Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow

Light capsule condition issue; very top shoulder fill; label condition issue

1981 Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow

Capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; label condition issue

1981 Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow

Capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; very top shoulder fill; label condition issue

1981 Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; base neck fill; light label condition issue

1982 Raymond Cabernet Sauvignon

5.0ltr

Capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; light signs of past seepage; top shoulder fill; light label condition issue; signed by the winemaker

WS  91   

1983 Dominus Estate

Capsule condition issue; very top shoulder fill; heavy label condition issue

RP  90   

1983 Dominus Estate

Light capsule condition issue; lightly elevated cork; light signs of past seepage; base neck fill; label condition issue

RP  90   

1985 Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

WS  91   
RP  90   

1985 Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

WS  91   
RP  90   

1986 Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; light label condition issue

WS  95   
RP  94   

1987 Chappellet Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

WA  94   
WS  90   

1990 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cask 23

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork

WS  95   
RP  91   

1991 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon

Capsule condition issue; signs of past seepage; mid shoulder fill; light label condition issue

WS  93   

1991 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Light label condition issue

WS  97   
RP  95   
ST  94   

1991 Hartwell Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon

1.5ltr

Capsule condition issue; signs of past seepage; top shoulder fill; etched bottle; partial cork exposed