Red Thread Wines and Summit Lake Vineyards and Winery
2017 Red Wine
Howell Mountain AVA
Auction 23 | Lot No. 107
Vintage: 2017
Red Thread Wines and Summit Lake Vineyards and Winery
Red Wine
Howell Mountain
10 cases produced
Highlights
- Your Premiere Napa Valley wine is from our estate Howell Mountain vineyard at 2,000 feet elevation
- This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel grown in Aiken clay loam: volcanic, rich in iron and rocky
- Elevated Howell Mountain flavors of black fruit, black pepper and cloves
- Aging for 24 months in French oak barrels: 50% new, 25% once used, 25% neutral
Description
Summit Lake Vineyards is the life and love of Bob and Sue Brakesman. In 1971, Bob Brakesman purchased the property for Sue and slipped the deed into her birthday card. When they finally made it to the property on the top of Howell Mountain, it had not been occupied for more than ten years. The property is solely run by the Brakesman and Griffin families, with Brian Brakesman serving as the winemaker. The true essence of the Howell Mountain nested appellation is in the altitude and dirt. Deep red clay, volcanic ash dirt and the altitude help produce intensely structured wines that can age for decades. This Howell Mountain single vineyard wine that we have created for you is estate grown, produced and bottled and is a blend of all the grapes that we grow at the vineyard and winery. This one-of-a-kind Premiere Napa Valley wine is aged for 24 months in French oak barrels: 50% new, 25% once used, 25% neutral.
Wine Facts
- Wine is unfiltered
- Single vineyard wine
- Wine is 100% estate grown and bottled
Brian Brakesman
Winemaker, Red Thread Wines and Summit Lake Vineyards and Winery
Brian was born and raised on Howell Mountain at Summit Lake Vineyards, a boutique family winery famous for its Zinfandel.
Working alongside his parents and siblings, Brian developed an appreciation for the art and culture of winemaking, learning every step of the process from vine to bottle.
To formalize his education, Brian studied agricultural engineering at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. Here, he learned of his exceptional aptitude for identifying the intricate details of wine composition and terrior, and further developed his intuitive grasp of the elements essential to winemaking.
After graduation, Brian spent a year traveling the world to broaden and develop his knowledge of wine, stopping for a season of wine and rugby in New Zealand. Wanderlust abated, and palate for worldly wines temporarily satiated, Brian returned home to Napa Valley. He immediately began working with acclaimed consulting winemaker John Gibson, formally of Stags Leap Wine Cellars and Vine Cliff Winery. Here, Brian helped John make wines for celebrated clients including Snowden Vineyards, Andrew Geoffrey, and Salexis.
After apprenticing with Gibson for 3 years, Brian became the Assistant Winemaker for Duckhorn Wine Company's Paraduxx Winery. Under famed winemaker Bill Nancarrow’s tutelage, Brian learned to balance the complexities of large-scale winemaking with the high standards and intricacies associated with top-notch, legacy brands.
Four years later, Brian was hungry to run the show and accepted the Winemaker position at Ledson Winery in Sonoma. Employing the skills and unique enological insights developed over his lifetime, Brian made over 82 wines per vintage from a catalog of diverse growing regions over his 4-year tenure at Ledson, and significantly elevated the quality of wines and brand.
Today Brian is the Winemaker at Summit Lake Vineyards & Winery, Consulting Winemaker, Owner at burgeoning Red Thread Wine Company, and lives with his wife and children just around the corner from his family winery on Howell Mountain.
Country born: United States
Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years
Beckendorf Liquors, Inc
5005 West Avenue
San Antonio TX 78213
Other Premiere Napa Valley Wines available from Beckendorf Liquors, Inc:
| Winery | Vintage | Variety | Appellation | Fanciful | Auction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buoncristiani Family Winery | 2022 | Dessert | Calistoga | The Closer | 27 (2023) |
| Hudson Napa Valley | 2021 | Chardonnay | Los Carneros | Trillium | 27 (2023) |
| Reynolds Family Winery | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Three/Sixteenths | 27 (2023) |
| Schramsberg Vineyards | 2003 | Sparkling Wine | Napa Valley | Brut Napa Valley Carneros Late Disgorged | 27 (2023) |
| Belle Glos | 2020 | Pinot Noir | Napa Valley | Eulenloch | 26 (2022) |
| Trois Noix | 2020 | Chardonnay | Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley | Muir Hanna Vineyard | 25 (2021) |
| Duckhorn Vineyards | 2018 | Merlot | Napa Valley | Three Palms Vineyard Block Selection | 24 (2020) |
| Quilt | 2018 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 24 (2020) | |
| Viader Vineyards & Winery | 2018 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Block B2 | 24 (2020) |
| Beringer Vineyards | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 23 (2019) | |
| Buena Vista Winery | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Purple Gold | 23 (2019) |
| Freemark Abbey | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | St. Helena | VanZ Vineyard | 23 (2019) |
| Louis M. Martini Winery | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Mount Veeder | Mount Veeder's Share | 23 (2019) |
| Materra, Cunat Family Vineyards | 2017 | Merlot | Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley | 23 (2019) | |
| PEJU | 2017 | Petit Verdot | Calistoga | Petit Pleasure | 23 (2019) |
| Red Thread Wines and Summit Lake Vineyards and Winery | 2017 | Red Wine | Howell Mountain | 23 (2019) | |
| Starmont Winery & Vineyards | 2017 | Pinot Noir | Los Carneros | Stanly Ranch Estate | 23 (2019) |
| Ancien | 2017 | Chardonnay | Coombsville | Select Old Vines | 22 (2018) |
| Casa Nuestra | 2015 | Cabernet Franc | Napa Valley | 22 (2018) | |
| Jarvis | 2016 | Cabernet Franc | Napa Valley | Frankly Franc | 22 (2018) |
| Kuleto Estate | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 22 (2018) | |
| Merus | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Coombsville | 22 (2018) | |
| Miner Family Winery | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Three's Company | 22 (2018) |
| Nickel & Nickel | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | John C. Sullenger Vineyard | 22 (2018) |
| Schermeister Cellars | 2017 | Chardonnay | Atlas Peak | Oak Before Smoke | 22 (2018) |
| Smith Devereux | 2016 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | Ibex Reserve Red | 22 (2018) |
| Starmont Winery & Vineyards | 2016 | Pinot Noir | Los Carneros | Stanly Ranch Estate | 22 (2018) |
| Bennett Lane | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Calistoga | 21 (2017) | |
| Black Stallion Estate Winery | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley | Gaspare Single Vineyard | 21 (2017) |
| Burgess Cellars | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Haymaker TKO | 21 (2017) |
| Chimney Rock Winery | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Tomahawk Vineyard Unfiltered | 21 (2017) |
| Kuleto Estate | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 21 (2017) | |
| PEJU | 2015 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | Fashionista | 21 (2017) |
| Foley Johnson | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | 20 (2016) | |
| Grgich Hills Estate | 2015 | Chardonnay | Los Carneros | 40th Anniversary of The Judgment of Paris Tasting | 20 (2016) |
| St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | 20 (2016) | |
| Terlato Family Vineyards | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Estate Blend 715 | 20 (2016) |
| The Hess Collection Winery | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Mount Veeder | 20 (2016) | |
| Beringer Vineyards | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Howell Mountain | 19 (2015) | |
| Clos Du Val | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Thirteen Leaps | 19 (2015) |
| Grgich Hills Estate | 2014 | Chardonnay | Napa Valley | Great Chicago Showdown | 19 (2015) |
| Inglenook | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Creek | 19 (2015) |
| Stags’ Leap Winery | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Estate Grown | 19 (2015) |
| Castello di Amorosa | 2012 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | 18 (2014) | |
| Louis M. Martini Winery | 2012 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 254 Meritage Blend | 18 (2014) |
| Madrigal Family Winery | 2012 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 18 (2014) | |
| Paraduxx | 2012 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | Premiere Blend | 18 (2014) |
| Sterling Vineyards | 2012 | Red Wine | Calistoga | One Plus Ultra | 18 (2014) |
| Cakebread Cellars | 2012 | Chardonnay | Los Carneros | 17 (2013) | |
| Joseph Phelps Vineyards | 2011 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | 17 (2013) | |
| XTANT | 2010 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Heart and Soul of St. Helena | 17 (2013) |
| Hewitt Vineyard | 2009 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Oakville Meets Calistoga in Rutherford | 15 (2011) |
| Madonna Estate | 2010 | Pinot Noir | Los Carneros | Due Ragazze | 15 (2011) |
| Rombauer Vineyards | 2009 | Cabernet Sauvignon | St. Helena | Stice Lane Vineyards | 15 (2011) |
Winery Distribution
Red Thread Wines and Summit Lake Vineyards and 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.
Domestic:
- Florida (Harvest Moon Importing)
- Indiana (Carroll and company)
- Nebraska (Qwest)
- Ohio (Tramonte & Sons)
- Texas (Green Light Distribution)