Bell Wine Cellars
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
"Clone 7 Selection"
Napa Valley AVA
Auction 25 | Lot No. 12
Vintage: 2019
Bell Wine Cellars
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
5 cases produced
Highlights
- A unique blend of Clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon from St. Helena and Atlas Peak vineyards
- Your wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Aging in our favorite new French oak barrels, this fruit was hand-harvested and sorted at the winery
- This wine demonstrates the complexity and finesse of Clone 7 when grown well in diverse locations
Description
Upon starting his eponymous winery in the 1990s, Bell Wine Cellars founder Anthony Bell decided to specialize in the exhibition and expression of many of his favorite clones, which he had seen flourish in the soils of the Rutherford bench during his time at Beaulieu Vineyard. At Bell Wine Cellars, we continue to highlight the different clones of Cabernet Sauvignon in limited, individual bottlings sourced from some of the finest vineyards in Napa Valley. Our current winemaker, John Hazak, continues the search for great vineyard sources and crafts wines to highlight the differences and strengths of each clone. Having spent 15 years working with great Clone 7 Cabernet from the Rutherford Bench in some of the same vineyards that Anthony had years before, John decided to create a unique expression of this clone for Premiere Napa Valley. As Clone 7 thrives in many areas when farmed with great care, this wine was created to showcase our vineyards in St. Helena and Atlas Peak, bringing together quite different expressions of terroir into a delicate dance upon the senses.
Wine Facts
- Sustainably produced
John Hazak
Winemaker, Bell Wine Cellars
After spending a number of years in archaeology, a fortuitous series of events brought John to his true passion, winemaking. Leaving his native southern California, John heard the call from the vineyards of Napa, and moved north to earn a Master of Science degree in Viticulture and Enology from U.C. Davis.
Upon finishing his degree at U.C. Davis, John spent some time working in the Cotes-de-Nuits, Burgundy. Returning from France in 2005, John honed his skills as Assistant Winemaker at Provenance Vineyards, specializing in wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc from Rutherford. Several years later, John joined Sterling Vineyards as an Associate Winemaker, heading their production of all white wines and Reserve red wine tier. In May of 2015, John returned to Provenance Vineyards, where he directed luxury production of all Provenance and Hewitt wines. A series of projects helped modernize Provenance into a small-lot, luxury Cabernet house, and created a path for John to Beaulieu Vineyards in 2017, to help them achieve the same goal.
John joined Bell Wine Cellars in February of 2020. His previous experiences paved the way to Bell, where founder and winemaker Anthony Bell had recently retired. Bell is an ultra-premium Yountville winery known for small-lot, single clone, Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as other Bordeaux varieties, Chardonnay and Syrah. John hopes to honor Anthony’s vision of craft winemaking and constant improvement, while starting a new chapter with this team.
Country born: United States
Education: M.S. Viticulture & Enology (University of California, Davis)
Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years
Winemaking Philosophy:
As a winemaker in the Napa Valley, I enjoy highlighting the expression of Cabernet Sauvignon as it manifests itself in each sub-appellation. With the amazing patchwork of soil types and sub-climates within such a small area, what we can achieve in this valley is amazing and diverse. With minimal intervention in the winery, we can let the fruit shine because it is so special and expressive. My job as winemaker is to coax the fruit through harvesting, fermentation, and aging into the bottle as smoothly as possible. Making the right decisions throughout the growing season and in the winery allows us to minimize personal impact along the way, and ultimately allows me to bring the art to the blending table to craft the best expression possible.
Underground Cellar
1166 Commerce Boulevard Suite D
American Canyon CA 94503
503-855-7368
Other Premiere Napa Valley Wines available from Underground Cellar:
| Winery | Vintage | Variety | Appellation | Fanciful | Auction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cakebread Cellars | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Estate Reserve | 27 (2023) |
| Ehlers Estate | 2021 | Cabernet Franc | St. Helena | 27 (2023) | |
| Faust | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Coombsville | The Pact Summit | 27 (2023) |
| Freemark Abbey | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Rooted in History | 27 (2023) |
| GRO Wines | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Howell Mountain | Polaris Vineyard | 27 (2023) |
| Maroon Wines | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Coombsville | 27 (2023) | |
| Stringer Cellars | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | The Fourth Horseman | 27 (2023) |
| The Debate | 2021 | Cabernet Franc | Napa Valley | 27 (2023) | |
| Tres Sabores | 2021 | Zinfandel | Rutherford | 27 (2023) | |
| Angwin Estate Vineyards | 2020 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Howell Mountain | 26 (2022) | |
| AXR Napa Valley | 2021 | Malbec | Napa Valley | 26 (2022) | |
| Grgich Hills Estate | 2020 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Yountville | Paradise Block Old Vine | 26 (2022) |
| Kenefick Ranch Winery | 2020 | Malbec | Calistoga | Kenefick Ranch | 26 (2022) |
| Paraduxx | 2020 | Red Table Wine | Napa Valley | Rector Creek Vineyard | 26 (2022) |
| Pine Ridge Vineyards | 2006 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Double Magnums of Stags Leap District | 26 (2022) |
| Smith Devereux | 2019 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | Nancy Adams Meritage | 26 (2022) |
| TEXTBOOK Vineyards | 2019 | Red Wine | Yountville | 5ive Red Blend | 26 (2022) |
| The Vice | 2019 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Batch #87 The American Dream | 26 (2022) |
| Antinori-Antica Estate | 2019 | Cabernet Franc | Atlas Peak | A27 - The Next Generation | 25 (2021) |
| Bell Wine Cellars | 2019 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Clone 7 Selection | 25 (2021) |
Winery Distribution
Bell Wine Cellars 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:
- Arkansas (Central Distributors)
- California (Classic Wines of California)
- Illinois (Elevage)
- New Jersey (Vintage Imports)
- New Mexico (Boutique Wines)
- New York (Vintage Imports)
- North Carolina (Johnson Bros.)
- Ohio (A.J. Hammer)
- Pennsylvania (Vintage Imports)
- Tennessee (Beverage Control)
International:
- Caribbean (Ventuari Wines)