Stephanie Selection
2007 Red Wine
Napa Valley
In keeping with the Bordeaux tradition, winemaker Jeff Gaffner blends for depth, nuance and balance using all five of the Bordeaux varietals planted to Hestan Vineyards, with Malbec dominating the blend of this special wine. Situated in the rolling hills of eastern Napa Valley, Hestan Vineyards is a 41-acre tapestry of small, individually farmed blocks, planted to the five principal red Bordeaux varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. The vineyard's mix of soils, slopes, exposures, rootstocks, clones and varietals contribute to the spectrum of flavors and nuance found in this limited-edition bottling of Hestan Vineyards Stephanie wine.
This wine was aged 28 months in new French oak barrels.
bone dry | very sweet | |
light body | very full bodied | |
soft, gentle | very crisp | |
no tannins | heavy tannins | |
Winemaker, Hestan Vineyards
I began as a cellar rat at Chateau St. Jean under the tutelage of Richard Arrowood, and I went on to become part of the winemaking team responsible for the 1996 Cinq Cepages (Wine Spectator Wine of the Year ’99). I launched my own brand, Saxon Brown, in 1997 and my consulting business in 1999 for clients including Edgewood Estates, Xtant, Three Sticks, Black Kite Cellars, Ram’s Gate and Hestan. I specialize in single-vineyard varietals noted for site signature, elegance and balance.
Country born: United States
Education: My mentor was Dick Arrowood.
Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years
Winemaking Philosophy:
I spend a lot of time in the vineyard, keep a meticulously clean cellar and pay attention to what the grapes and wine need. I embrace a traditional approach to focus on making wines of balance and elegance.
Q: Premiere Napa Valley wines are innovative and allow each winery to showcase the region's sense of exploration in fine winemaking. What kind of exploration did your Premiere Napa Valley wine allow you to do?
A: This Premiere selection allowed me to explore the Malbec from Hestan Vineyards in a single bottling. One of my favorite varietals, Malbec is usually used only as a blender, but in this case, I felt it was worthy of its own bottling. It is a singular standout, as well as a synergistic star from a vineyard planted to all five of the classic red Bordeaux varietals.
Q: What was your inspiration for this offering?
A: The Malbec block is named for owner Stanley Cheng’s daughter Stephanie, whose harp is pictured on our label. A solo artist herself, I was intrigued to see how her namesake Malbec would do on its own.
Q: Fill in the blanks: I chose to make this wine from this particular ______________ because ______________.
A: I chose to make this wine from this particular varietal because I love Malbec.
Q: Why should a wine lover have a bottle of this wine in their cellar?
A: This wine will only get more expressive with time. It’s deeply flavored and angular now and will continue to grow in complexity, elegance and balance as it ages.
162 South Rancho Santa Fe Road
Suite A-10
Encinitas CA 92024
760-479-2500
Premiere Napa Valley Wine Collection
Winery | Vintage | Variety | Appellation | Fanciful | Auction |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Morlet Family Vineyards | 2017 | Cabernet Franc | Oakville | Le Fabuleux Franc | 23 |
Accendo Cellars | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 22 | |
Rocca Family Vineyards | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Yountville | Grigsby Vineyard Old Vines Winemaker’s Barrel | 22 |
Spoto Family Wines | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Cession | 22 |
Accendo Cellars | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 21 | |
Arrow&Branch | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Beckstoffer Dr. Crane & Oakville Ranch | 20 |
Barbour | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | St. Helena | Man Cave Blend | 20 |
Chateau Boswell Winery Napa Green Winery | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 20 | |
Coup De Foudre Winery | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Lightning Bolt | 20 |
Freedom Estate Wine | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 20 | |
Hiatus Cellars | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | THE FOUNDATION | 20 |
Kale Wines | 2014 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | Broken Axle | 20 |
Krupp Brothers | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | The Doctor & the Bandit | 20 |
S. R. Tonella Cellars | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | 20 | |
Tuck Beckstoffer Wines | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 20 | |
Bell Wine Cellars | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Clone 6, Ermitage Troncais | 19 |
Davis Estates | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Phase V | 19 |
Krupp Brothers | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Doctor's Orders | 19 |
Memento Mori | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | RTL | 19 |
Pahlmeyer | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 19 | |
Renteria Wines | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Beller Bench Blend | 19 |
VinRoc Wine Caves | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Atlas Peak | Coyote's Howl | 19 |
Arkenstone Vineyards | 2012 | Cabernet Franc | Howell Mountain | Block 7 Upper Vineyard | 18 |
Astrale e Terra | 2012 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Atlas Peak | Block 6/7 | 18 |
Bell Wine Cellars | 2012 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Clone 6, St. Martin Grande Reserve | 18 |
Bennett Lane | 2012 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | 18 | |
Croze | 2012 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | 18 | |
Robert Craig Winery | 2012 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Howell Mountain | Upper Block | 18 |
Spoto Wines | 2012 | Malbec | Oakville | 18 | |
Sullivan Vineyards | 2012 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | 18 | |
Terra Valentine | 2012 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Spring Mountain District | The Crown Jewel | 18 |
THE GRADE Cellars | 2012 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Calistoga | THE MONEY BARREL | 18 |
V12 Vineyards | 2012 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Twelve | 18 |
ADAMVS | 2011 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Howell Mountain | Borne | 17 |
Amuse Bouche Winery | 2011 | Merlot | Napa Valley | 17 | |
Arkenstone Vineyards | 2011 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Howell Mountain | Block 1 Lower | 17 |
Bennett Lane | 2011 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Calistoga | 17 | |
Blackbird Vineyards | 2011 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | 17 | |
Caspar Estate | 2011 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | 17 | |
Cliff Lede Vineyards | 2011 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Wild Layla | 17 |
Coho | 2011 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | Combination of the Two | 17 |
Mario Bazán Cellars | 2011 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 17 | |
Porter Family Vineyards | 2011 | Red Wine | Coombsville | Duet | 17 |
Arietta | 2010 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Against the Grain | 16 |
Barbour Wines | 2010 | Cabernet Sauvignon | St. Helena | Man Cave Blend III | 16 |
Oakville East Exposure | 2010 | Cabernet Franc | Oakville | The Sun and The Moon | 16 |
Oberon Wines | 2010 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Three Elevations | 16 |
Spring Mountain Vineyard | 2009 | Red Wine | Spring Mountain District | Elivette's Sister | 16 |
TOR Kenward Family Wines | 2010 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | 2010 TOR Cabernet Sauvignon, Beckstoffer To Kalon | 16 |
Twomey Cellars | 2010 | Merlot | Napa Valley | SoCaRaNa | 16 |
Buoncristiani Family Winery | 2009 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | JAMN Black & Blue Blend | 15 |
Continuum Estate | 2009 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | 15 | |
Gargiulo Vineyards | 2009 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | OVX vineyard | 15 |
HALL | 2009 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Sacrashe Vineyard | 15 |
Kenefick Ranch Winery | 2008 | Red Wine | Calistoga | Pickett Road Red | 15 |
Longfellow Wine Company | 2009 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Vineyard Select | 15 |
Nickel & Nickel | 2009 | Cabernet Sauvignon | St. Helena | Hayne Vineyard | 15 |
Terra Valentine | 2009 | Cabernet Franc | Spring Mountain District | 15 | |
Ahnfeldt Wines | 2008 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | Quid Pro Quo IV | 14 |
Bennett Lane | 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Calistoga | Calistoga Appellation Lot | 14 |
Elyse Winery | 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 14 | |
Frank Family Vineyards | 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Winston Hill Block 5 (Heart Block) | 14 |
Hestan Vineyards | 2007 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | Stephanie Selection | 14 |
Husic Vineyards | 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | 14 | |
Mi Sueño Winery | 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Selección Herrera | 14 |
Ahnfeldt Wines | 2007 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | Quid Pro Quo III | 13 |
Baldacci Family Vineyards | 2006 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | First Born | 13 |
Etude | 2007 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Vine Hill Ranch | 13 |
Page Wine Cellars | 2006 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Your Personal Stash | 13 |
Palmaz Vineyards | 2007 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | The Ultimate High | 13 |
Provenance Vineyards | 2007 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Three Palms Vineyard | 13 |
Versant Vineyards | 2007 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 13 | |
Viader Vineyards and Winery | 2007 | Petit Verdot | Napa Valley | 13 | |
ZD Wines | Non-vintage | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Petit Abacus | 13 |
Krupp Brothers | 2006 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 12 | |
Mi Sueño Winery | 2005 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Carpignano Vineyard | 11 |
Fantesca Estate and Winery | 2004 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Spring Mountain District | 10 | |
Reynolds Family Winery | 2004 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | 10 | |
Rocca Family Vineyards | 2004 | Cabernet Sauvignon 50% Syrah 50% | Yountville | Temptress | 10 |
ZD Wines | 2005 | Pinot Noir | Los Carneros | Haire Vineyard 667 | 10 |
Bennett Lane | 2003 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Spring Mountain District | 9 | |
Chappellet Winery and Vineyard | 2003 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 9 | |
Miner Family Winery | 2003 | 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 9 | |
Provenance Vineyards | 2004 | Cabernet Sauvignon 75%/ Petit Verdot 25% | Oakville | 9 | |
Thirteen Appellations | 2003 | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot | Napa Valley | 9 | |
Duckhorn Vineyards | 2002 | Merlot | Napa Valley | 25th Harvest Cuvee | 8 |
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