The Brother and Sister of (Volcanic) Rock
2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
This year, I’ve paid homage to brother and sister co-owners Steve Pride and Suzanne Pride Bryan by drawing from the two vineyard blocks on our estate atop Spring Mountain that produce our very best Cabernet Sauvignon: Rock Arch, which forms the core of our Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, and Rim Rock, used for our über-limited-production Vintner’s Select Cabernet Sauvignon. Rock Arch (54%) is our “masculine” Cabernet— an unknown clone sourced from the Bella Oaks and Jordan vineyards, displaying profound blue-black color, massive tannins and intensity worthy of 20 years of bottle aging. Rim Rock (46%) is our “feminine” Cabernet—planted to opulent Clone 337, it is all about round, juicy fruit and ripe, integrated tannins, a wine that shows beautifully when young, while taking on complexity as it ages. This his-and-hers blend is both colossal and elegant, packed full of ripe blue and red fruit, subtle floral notes and a minutes-long finish that will not soon be forgotten. Enjoy!
bone dry | very sweet | |
light body | very full bodied | |
soft, gentle | very crisp | |
no tannins | heavy tannins | |
Winemaker, Pride Mountain Vineyards
I obtained a Master's Degree in winemaking at UC Davis and then began my career at St. Francis Winery in Sonoma County, where I spent eight years. I took a brief hiatus to work at St. Hallett Winery in South Australia's Barossa Valley and also produced my own brand, Lalys Cellars, for three years. In the spring of 2007, I joined the team at Pride Mountain Vineyards and am thrilled to be producing wines from our unique and phenomenal estate.
Country born: United States
Education: University of Michigan, BS in French Literature and Biology
Six months' study in Paris and Brittany, France
Two months study in Tunisia
University of California at Davis, MS in Winemaking
Society of Wine Educators Scholarship
Wine Spectator Scholarship
Internship at St Hallett Winery in Australia
Trained with winemakers Bob Foley, Tom Mackey, Stuart Blackwell and Matt Gant; vineyard consultants Paul Skinner and Zach Berkowitz
Years in the wine industry: 15-20 years
Winemaking Philosophy:
My philosophy is to let the quality and character of our estate vineyards speak for themselves. Much of the winemaking is done in the vineyard, so careful monitoring of our 85 acres of vineyards is critical, and I am passionate about micromanaging our vineyards to achieve the highest potential from each vine. I make picking decisions based solely on flavor and the grape's physiological ripeness. I employ both traditional and modern winemaking techniques to achieve the roundness and concentration that make our big mountain wines both balanced and nuanced. The final step is the blending, which has a huge impact on the final character of my wines. Each of our 42 vineyard blocks is fermented and aged separately, so that my options for blending our thirteen wines are essentially limitless.
755 Skyway Court
Napa CA 94558
707-226-5893
Premiere Napa Valley Wine Collection
Winery | Vintage | Variety | Appellation | Fanciful | Auction |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Corison Winery | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | St. Helena | Premiere Reserve | 22 |
Stone The Crows | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 22 | |
Ehlers Estate | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | St. Helena | Block 4 | 21 |
Frank Family Vineyards Napa Green Winery | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Winston Hill Block 5 (Heart Block) | 21 |
von Strasser Winery | 2015 | Red Wine | Diamond Mountain District | Sori Bricco | 21 |
Corison Winery | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Premiere Reserve | 20 |
LATERAL | 2014 | Cabernet Franc | Los Carneros | 20 | |
Tierra Roja Vineyards | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Katharine's Blend | 19 |
Gallica | 2012 | Red Wine | Oakville | 18 | |
Saintsbury | 2012 | Pinot Noir | Los Carneros | Brown Ranch | 17 |
Saintsbury | 2011 | Pinot Noir | Los Carneros | Brown Ranch | 16 |
Schrader Cellars, LLC | 2010 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Double Diamond Never Ever Cuvee | 16 |
Pride Mountain Vineyards | 2009 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | The Brother and Sister of (Volcanic) Rock | 15 |
Shafer Vineyards | 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Sunspot Vineyard | 14 |
Antica Napa Valley - Antinori Family Wine Estate | 2007 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Townsend Vineyard | 13 |
Ceja Vineyards | 2006 | Pinot Noir | Los Carneros | 12 | |
J. Davies Vineyards | 2006 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | McEachran Tierra Luna | 12 |
Ceja Vineyards | 2005 | Pinot Noir | Los Carneros | 11 | |
Ladera Vineyards | 2003 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 9 | |
Cornerstone Cellars | 2001 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Howell Mountain | 7 |
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