Brown Estate Vineyards
2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
"In Chaos, Order"
Chiles Valley District AVA
Auction 29 | Lot No. 81
Vintage: 2023
Brown Estate Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon
Chiles Valley District
10 cases produced
Highlights
- Our first Brown Estate Premiere Napa Valley offering since 2007!
- Winemaker Dave Brown reprises the 80-20 Cabernet Sauvignon/Zinfandel blend that gave rise to our famed Chaos Theory
- Sourced from our Far East Cabernet Sauvignon block (elevation 1,450 feet) plus multiple Zinfandel blocks across our property
- Estate grown, produced and bottled; aging in French and American oak
Description
The term “Chaos Theory” fittingly is a bit of a contradiction – ‘chaos’ indicating disorder, ‘theory’ a means of establishing order through methodical consideration. The mathematical concept of chaos theory refers to the study of random systems (such as weather) that reveal patterns of behavior over time, ultimately less chaotic than dynamic. Therefore it may be said that under the rubric of chaos theory, patience yields wonderful and indeed dynamic surprises.
In the delicate balance of science and art that intersects in the processes of both farming and winemaking, we are subordinate partners to Mother Nature, whose whims at times seem boundless. Along with the measured deliberateness of farming and chemistry, and the subtle nuances of the winemaker’s finesse, Chaos Theory is the order of the day when it comes to growing grapes and turning them into wine. We wait, we watch, we do a little theorizing of our own, and with sufficient patience we are rewarded with wonderful, dynamic results.
In chaos, order!
Wine Facts
- Sustainably produced
- Organically produced (also commonly called "organically grown")
- Wine is 100% estate grown and bottled
David Brown
Winemaker, Brown Estate Vineyards
David Brown's path to winemaking was, like Brown Estate itself, unconventional as Napa Valley stories go. After his parents purchased land in the hills east of Rutherford in 1980 and began planting vineyards a few years later, David’s relationship to the vast surrounding forests, and eventually to grape farming, grew increasingly intimate and granular, ultimately becoming an organizing principle in his life.
Following his formal studies at Andrews University (where he double majored in Chemistry and Biology with a minor in Physics), he took up full-time residence at Brown Estate, taking over the family farming operation, vintner relationships, and land management. He found mentors among the renowned winemakers who were purchasing fruit from Brown Estate, a roster that included Mike Grgich (Grgich Hills), Koerner Rombauer (Rombauer Vineyards), Jay Heminway (Green & Red), Greg Brown (T-Vine), and Duane Dappen (D-Cubed).
Through a consistent generosity of spirit within this cohort, David was exposed to a diverse array of winemaking techniques. In particular he began to understand, with his family’s fruit as a case study, how different practices would impact final outcomes. In 1995 he produced his first 200 gallons of estate-grown Zinfandel, marking the beginning of his now 30+ year winemaking journey.
Country born: United States
Education: (reflected in bio)
Years in the wine industry: 30+ years
Winemaking Philosophy:
My approach to winemaking has been regenerative from the start. Growing up with health-obsessed parents who had careers in medicine, my siblings and I were deeply influenced by their “do no harm” mindset. This philosophy, instilled in us from a young age, fostered a profound desire to commune with nature and to incorporate a holistic approach into every aspect of our lives and vocations. For me, winemaking is a reflection of these values, as I continue to champion practices that honor both the land and the people who care for it, ensuring that each bottle of wine from Brown Estate is a testament to sustainability, health, and harmony with the environment.
Winery Distribution
Brown Estate Vineyards 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:
- Arizona (Quail)
- California (Winebow)
- Colorado (Momentum)
- Connecticut (Winebow)
- Delaware (Winebow)
- District of Columbia (Winebow)
- Florida (Winebow)
- Georgia (Prime)
- Idaho (Hayden)
- Illinois (Winebow)
- Indiana (Crossroad)
- Iowa (Okoboji)
- Kentucky (Heritage)
- Louisiana (Bizou)
- Maryland (Winebow)
- Massachusetts (Classic/Martignetti)
- Michigan (Imperial)
- Minnesota (Winebow)
- Missouri (Veritas)
- Nebraska (Quench)
- Nevada (Cork)
- New Hampshire (Classic/Martignetti)
- New Jersey (Winebow)
- New York (Winebow)
- North Carolina (Winebow)
- Ohio (Cutting Edge)
- Oklahoma (Armada)
- Oregon (Galaxy)
- Pennsylvania (Wine Merchant)
- Rhode Island (Classic/Martignetti)
- South Carolina (Winebow)
- South Dakota (Okoboji)
- South Dakota (Okoboji)
- Tennessee (Best Brands)
- Tennessee (Southern)
- Texas (Southern)
- Utah (Vin 7000)
- Virginia (Winebow)
- Washington (Prime)
- Wisconsin (Winebow)
International:
- Japan (DEPT Planning Co., Ltd.)