Canard Vineyard and Reynolds Family Winery
Depth Charge
2020 Cabernet Franc
Napa Valley
Auction 26 | Lot No. 73
Vintage: 2020
Canard Vineyard and Reynolds Family Winery
Depth Charge
Cabernet Franc
Napa Valley
10 cases produced
Highlights
- Two palates are better than one; Steve Reynolds and Brian Graham teamed up on this beauty
- Your wine is big, bold and juicy with a strong backbone of Cabernet Franc and layers of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
- Two amazing winemakers blended their best 2020 vintage, creating a super unique, one-of-a-kind wine
- This blend is from the Atlas Pak, Calistoga, Diamond Mountain District and Rutherford nested appellations
Description
When two top winemakers put their heads together, you get something that will stand out. Depth Charge is a layered Cabernet Franc that is like no other. It’s certainly a one-of-a-kind collector’s dream.
Steve Reynolds
Winemaker, Italics Winegrowers
Steve Reynolds feels he was destined to be in the wine business since his youth. The Oklahoma native’s father was in the electrical business and the family moved numerous times during Reynolds’ youth, including a seven year stint in a small town just south of Munich in southern Germany.
“My father was almost fanatical about wine and was an avid wine collector,” Reynolds, recently recalled. “Most of our family outings centered around wine and wineries and we never had a meal where there wasn’t a bottle of wine on the table.”
Reynolds returned to the United States after high school and attended the University of Washington. He next went to the University of the Pacific where he graduated in dentistry in 1986. He eventually wound up in the Lodi-Stockton area where he practiced dentistry and where he was first introduced to his future wife, Suzie.
“Suzie was at St. Mary’s College in nearby Moraga, and we started dating. She had a best friend at the school that was dating a guy from Napa named Oscar Renteria,” Reynolds added. “We all started hanging out together during the late 1980’s and going to the Napa Valley on weekends and holidays where Renteria’s father was a vineyard manager.”
In 1993, the couple became engaged. A fifteen-minute conversation between the pair on a return trip from Napa persuaded Reynolds to sell his Central Valley practice and move to Napa.
“We decided we loved Napa and I wanted to be one of those gentlemen farmers making homemade wine on the side in my garage. I started a new practice and Suzie continued to work in her family’s insurance business.”
The Reynolds’ jump into the wine business began for real in 1995 when an old chicken farm on the Silverado Trail, south of the prestigious Stag’s Leap District, became available. Vineyards were planted and, in 1999, the first wines were made from a small portion of some very specific vines that had dropped fruit a few months earlier. The finished wines were well-received by friends and acquaintances and Reynolds decided it was time to get into the wine business on a larger scale.
The Reynolds Family Winery’s first release of around 2,000 cases came at the start of the new millennium amid a rash of personal problems for Reynolds. With a six month old baby and its needs to deal with, Reynolds lost his inspirational father (and winery investor) and was then forced to give up his dental practice when the running of the new winery operation proved too time consuming.
“I was really up against it,” Reynolds admitted. “It wasn’t the greatest time in my life, but I had no real choices. The winery demanded someone be there on a full time basis. I called on my friends and neighbors, and everyone pitched in and helped out.”
Basically self taught as a winemaker, Steve Reynolds took courses at UC Davis for two years to perfect his art. He credits South African winemaker Anthony Bell for seeing him through the hardest time in his winery’s evolution. The rest is practically a chapter from a romantic novel.
The first Reynolds Family wines were incredibly well received, as were the succeeding releases. Today, Reynolds Family Winery has grown to around 8,000 cases. Reynolds has also been active in two other winery ventures, a fun brand called Naughty as well as an innovative brand called Fourteen that brings together grapes from Napa’s finest growing districts in one amazing bottle.
Through it all, Steve and Suzie Reynolds have truly enjoyed the experience and path that has lead them to where they are today. They have three beautiful children, dozens of accolades, medals and achievements for their wines, and most of all, each other. Steve is one of the most honest, giving and sought after wine makers in the Napa Valley; his passion for his craft is shown with each new release. Seeing the bustling tasting room, drinking the juice of his labors and knowing he followed his heart makes all of the rough times worth it.
Country born: United States
Education: All my degrees are non-wine related.
Years in the wine industry: 15-20 years
Winemaking Philosophy:
There is no right or wrong, no "pure" or unpure" style, it’s about when one glass invites another. Ripness with balance, simply understated and not over the top; great with food and able to stand alone.
Steve Reynolds
Winemaker, Reynolds Family Winery
Steve Reynolds feels he was destined to be in the wine business since his youth. The Oklahoma native’s father was in the electrical business and the family moved numerous times during Reynolds’ youth, including a seven year stint in a small town just south of Munich in southern Germany.
“My father was almost fanatical about wine and was an avid wine collector,” Reynolds, recently recalled. “Most of our family outings centered around wine and wineries and we never had a meal where there wasn’t a bottle of wine on the table.”
Reynolds returned to the United States after high school and attended the University of Washington. He next went to the University of the Pacific where he graduated in dentistry in 1986. He eventually wound up in the Lodi-Stockton area where he practiced dentistry and where he was first introduced to his future wife, Suzie.
“Suzie was at St. Mary’s College in nearby Moraga, and we started dating. She had a best friend at the school that was dating a guy from Napa named Oscar Renteria,” Reynolds added. “We all started hanging out together during the late 1980’s and going to the Napa Valley on weekends and holidays where Renteria’s father was a vineyard manager.”
In 1993, the couple became engaged. A fifteen-minute conversation between the pair on a return trip from Napa persuaded Reynolds to sell his Central Valley practice and move to Napa.
“We decided we loved Napa and I wanted to be one of those gentlemen farmers making homemade wine on the side in my garage. I started a new practice and Suzie continued to work in her family’s insurance business.”
The Reynolds’ jump into the wine business began for real in 1995 when an old chicken farm on the Silverado Trail, south of the prestigious Stag’s Leap District, became available. Vineyards were planted and, in 1999, the first wines were made from a small portion of some very specific vines that had dropped fruit a few months earlier. The finished wines were well-received by friends and acquaintances and Reynolds decided it was time to get into the wine business on a larger scale.
The Reynolds Family Winery’s first release of around 2,000 cases came at the start of the new millennium amid a rash of personal problems for Reynolds. With a six month old baby and its needs to deal with, Reynolds lost his inspirational father (and winery investor) and was then forced to give up his dental practice when the running of the new winery operation proved too time consuming.
“I was really up against it,” Reynolds admitted. “It wasn’t the greatest time in my life, but I had no real choices. The winery demanded someone be there on a full time basis. I called on my friends and neighbors, and everyone pitched in and helped out.”
Basically self taught as a winemaker, Steve Reynolds took courses at UC Davis for two years to perfect his art. He credits South African winemaker Anthony Bell for seeing him through the hardest time in his winery’s evolution. The rest is practically a chapter from a romantic novel.
The first Reynolds Family wines were incredibly well received, as were the succeeding releases. Today, Reynolds Family Winery has grown to around 8,000 cases. Reynolds has also been active in two other winery ventures, a fun brand called Naughty as well as an innovative brand called Fourteen that brings together grapes from Napa’s finest growing districts in one amazing bottle.
Through it all, Steve and Suzie Reynolds have truly enjoyed the experience and path that has lead them to where they are today. They have three beautiful children, dozens of accolades, medals and achievements for their wines, and most of all, each other. Steve is one of the most honest, giving and sought after wine makers in the Napa Valley; his passion for his craft is shown with each new release. Seeing the bustling tasting room, drinking the juice of his labors and knowing he followed his heart makes all of the rough times worth it.
Country born: United States
Education: All of my degrees are non-wine related.
Years in the wine industry: 15-20 years
Winemaking Philosophy:
There is no right or wrong, no "pure" or unpure" style, it’s about when one glass invites another. Ripness with balance, simply understated and not over the top; great with food and able to stand alone.
Brian Graham
Winemaker, Reynolds Family Winery
Brian grew up in Denton, Texas which is just north of Dallas. His father was a real estate lawyer and spent his hard-earned dollars on three things: his family, golf and wine.
At age 14 Brian’s father gave him his first experience with wine during the celebration of a large real estate deal Brian’s dad had just closed:
After dinner the family raised their glasses and toasted success. Brian thought his drink was a shot and downed the whole glass as if it were Jose Cuervo. Feeling pretty proud of himself, Brian looked up with a beam on his face, only to see his dad’s face the color of a strawberry daquiri. He explained to Brian that wine was meant to be savored and enjoyed, not pounded like a lunatic. He added that Brian was not allowed to have any more wine with him until he learned the true meaning of wine.
Brian’s embarrassment prompted an eager discourse with his father on a regular basis. That first wine, a 1963 Dow port, launched an intense study and love of the elixir.
During college and several years after, Brian managed wine stores. After five years in retail, Brian moved into the distribution field of the industry, feeling that he would be closer to the source of his passion.
A year later, Brian called in a favor to a friend named Francois who owned a Chateau in Bordeaux and asked if he could help Brian find a job and place to stay. Francois welcomed Brian to work with him and his winemaking family for as long as he liked. Brian sold everything he owned, purchased a one-way plane ticket to France then set off to learn how to grow grapes and make wine.
Brian attended the University of Bordeaux while working at several small Chateaux including Chateau Roquefort in Bordeaux. He also worked harvest in Burgundy at an extremely small winery named Domaine Serrigny - Jean-Pierre & Fils in Savigny-Les-Beaune. Hands on, all of the machines were powered by hand, Brian loved working the land. Brian traveled France and surrounding countries eating, tasting and soaking in the old world style of winemaking.
Wanting to learn more, while still living in France, Brian attended the Wine and Spirits Educational Trust in London. The school specializes in teaching retailers every detail of each wine region around the world. He was able to learn about techniques, terroirs and significant nuances not attainable in any other way. Brian’s challenge was not in absorbing this volume of information but flying to London to attend school, then flying back after class in order to continue work in Bordeaux.
Brian moved to Napa in 1997, continuing his education and working for several wineries and winemakers of distinction before focusing his attention on a special piece of land in Calistoga called Canard Vineyard.
All of Canard’s single vineyard wines are produced from dry farmed, estate grown grapes which are skillfully transformed into the finest expression of each varietal and showcase the unique terroir from which they are grown. Brian’s French training straddles a fine line between Old World elegance and the vibrancy of the fruit produced from this historic vineyard in Calistoga. In just the last few vintages, Canard has received over fifty ratings of 90 points or above. Brian is dedicated to creating wines of distinction with an emphasis on consistently producing quality wines year after year.
Country born: United States
Education: Studied in Bordeaux. Interned at Chateau Roquefort.
Years in the wine industry: 10-15 years
Winemaking Philosophy:
Make the best wine possible from the whatever Mother Nature gives me. Every year is different and that's what makes winemaking so exciting. It's not too difficult to make good wine when all the conditions are perfect. The measure of a good winemaker is to see how he or she handles the difficult vintages.
Winery Distribution
Canard Vineyard and Reynolds Family Winery is distributed in the following markets. Please contact the winery directly for the most up-to-date distribution information and to explore commercial opportunities.
Canard Vineyard and Reynolds Family Winery Contact: Steve Reynolds
Domestic:
- Arizona ( Southern Glaziers Wine and Spirits )
- California ( Southern Glaziers Wine and Spirits )
- Colorado ( Eagle Rock )
- Florida ( Angels Share )
- Georgia ( Eagle Rock )
- Louisiana ( Artisan )
- Nevada ( Southern Glaziers Wine and Spirits )
- North Carolina ( Advintage )
- Ohio ( Tramonte )
- South Carolina ( Advintage )
- Texas ( Southern Glaziers Wine and Spirits )
- Virginia ( Dionysus )
- Washington ( Prime Wine and Spirits )
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