Davies Vineyards
J. Davies Estate Rock Garden
2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
Diamond Mountain District
Auction 24 | Lot No. 32
Vintage: 2018
Davies Vineyards
J. Davies Estate Rock Garden
Cabernet Sauvignon
Diamond Mountain District
5 cases produced
Highlights
- Crafted from the Rock Garden Block within the McEachran Vineyard section of our estate vineyards
- Originally planted in 1862, these are the first hillside vineyards planted in the Napa Valley
- Hand harvested, averaging two tons per acre; produced at our Davies winery in St. Helena
- Crafted by director of winemaking Sean Thompson and consulting winemaker Celia Welch
Description
Named in honor of family patriarch Jack Davies, the J. Davies Cabernet Sauvignon is the product of an intimate knowledge of a place and a passion to create delicious red wine. The vineyards are located on the Schramsberg property, on the southern slopes of Diamond Mountain District between Nash Creek and Ritchie Creek, where the Davies family carefully started replanting these vineyards to classic red varieties for the J. Davies wines in 1994. The wine is an assemblage of top barrels of the vintage, focusing on grapes from the Rock Garden Block from the McEachran Vineyard section of our estate vineyards, located between 500 and 600 feet in elevation. Produced from Cabernet Sauvignon and aging 28 months in 100 percent new French oak barrels, this wine was made specifically for Premiere Napa Valley.
Wine Facts
- Single vineyard wine
- Sustainably produced
- Wine is 100% estate grown and bottled
Sean Thompson
Winemaker, Davies Vineyards
I started my career in winemaking with Beringer at the old Italian Swiss Colony in Asti. The hook was set with the discovery of the diversity of flavors and aromas produced by the simple grape and its fermentation. I continued my enological exploration with the fermentation of red wines after moving to Napa Valley for a position at the Merlot house of Rutherford Hill Winery.
I returned to the University of California, Davis in the fall of 2002, to work with Dr. David Mills in earning a Masters of Science in Viticulture and Enology.
Upon graduation, I began at Staglin Family Estate in Rutherford, CA, working directly with Luc Morlet to mine the terroir of estate-driven Cabernet Sauvignon. This final piece led me to join Schramsberg in the summer of 2006 as the J. Davies Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Assistant Winemaker, and taking over as the winemaker in 2008. In 2017, I became Director Winemaking for Schramsberg and Davies Vineyards.
Country born: United States
Education: B.S. Chemistry, U.C. Davis
Masters of Science in Viticulture and Enology, U.C. Davis
Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years
Winemaking Philosophy:
Keeping your ears open and your mouth shut. Much of my education was shaped by asking questions and listening to the answers. I also believe in fostering an environment to encourage questions from others in and outside the winery. People want to be a part of the experience of producing spectacular wines.
Celia Welch
Winemaker, Davies Vineyards
After more than twenty-five years of making wines for other Napa Valley vintners, Celia Welch is excited to share with you the wine she has made for her own brand, Corra.
Celia Welch's first interaction with grapes was under the huge oak tree in her backyard in Southern Oregon, where her siblings and she plucked grape berries from stems for their father, an avid wine collector and home winemaker. Her parents also included the family on trips through Napa and Sonoma in the early sixties, and, like most visitors, she was entranced with the beauty of the rolling vineyards.
In 1982 with a degree in Enology earned at UC Davis in her back pocket, she set out to take a peek at a few wine regions. Her travels took her to the Pacific Northwest, the East Coast, and to New Zealand. She worked harvest in the Barossa Valley of Australia, and then settled in the Napa Valley to refine her craft.
Celia had reached a fork in her career path in the early nineties, and she chose to focus on independent wine consulting. The wines she has made create a microcosm of Napa Valley. She has made wine from vineyards on Mt. Veeder, Atlas Peak, and Howell Mountain to those in Carneros, and from benchland vineyards from St. Helena to Napa.
In 2004 came the idea and the challenge of founding Corra. It was not easy to find vineyard sources with top-quality fruit, a winery with a bit of space to spare for barrels, and a strong team of individuals with experience in different aspects of the wine business from grapevines to websites. The results of these efforts have been tremendous; well-received wines and a project that has lead to information- and idea-sharing for everyone involved.
Country born: United States
Education: 1982 with a degree in Enology earned at UC Davis
Years in the wine industry: 30+ years
Winemaking Philosophy:
Celia had reached a fork in her career path in the early nineties, and she chose to focus on independent wine consulting.
Hugh Davies
Winemaker, Davies Vineyards
Named CEO and President of Schramsberg Vineyards in 2005, I had already spent multiple years as the winemaker and general manager of the winery. I had lived and breathed the winery life since I first walked the vineyards as a toddler, and I started to work full-time at the winery starting in 1996. As a young man, I ventured away from home to broaden my experiences; earning a master’s degree in enology from the University of California, Davis, an undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College in Maine, and honing my skills at Möet et Chandon in Epernay, Petaluma Winery in South Australia, and Mumm Napa Valley. This diverse background has provided me with the knowledge and skills to take the reins of Schramsberg and guide it into the future.
Country born: United States
Education: Master’s degree in Enology from U.C. Davis
Undergraduate Degree from Bowdoin College, Maine
Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years
Winemaking Philosophy:
My goal is to produce a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon reflective of the unique hillside vineyards located on the Schramsberg property, found at the southern end of the Diamond Mountain District. With the expertise of the winemaking team, I aim to showcase the vibrant, concentrated depth of fruit depth that the low-yielding site provides, while at same time being careful to maintain a supple, polished tannic profile on the palate.
Southern Napa Fine Wine House
2304 Main Street
Daphne AL 36526
251-375-2800
Premiere Napa Valley Wine Collection
| Winery | Vintage | Variety | Appellation | Fanciful | Auction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornerstone Cellars | 2018 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Howell Mountain | 24 | |
| Davies Vineyards | 2018 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Diamond Mountain District | J. Davies Estate Rock Garden | 24 |
| Nemerever Napa Green Winery | 2018 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Hillside | 24 |
| Somerston Estate | 2018 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Everest | 24 |
| TEXTBOOK | 2018 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Sticks & Stones | 24 |
| Burgess Cellars Napa Green Winery | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Brush Breaker | 23 |
| Selah Wines | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Howell Mountain | Selah | 23 |
| Vine Cliff Winery | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Spirit | 23 |
| Anthem Winery And Vineyards, Llc | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Mount Veeder | 22 | |
| Jean Edwards Cellars | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Trois II | 22 |
| Monticello Vineyards | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley | Block 2 | 22 |
| Taplin Cellars | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | St. Helena | Ethel Lewelling Taplin | 22 |
| Anthem Winery and Vineyards, LLC | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Mount Veeder | 21 | |
| Gamble Family Vineyards | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | 21 | |
| Rocca Family Vineyards | 2015 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Yountville | Grigsby Vineyard Old Vines Barrel 15047 | 21 |
| Schramsberg Vineyards | 1996 | Sparkling Wine | Napa Valley | J. Schram Late Disgorged | 21 |
| Beran | 2014 | Zinfandel | Napa Valley | 20 | |
| Darioush | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | 20 | ||
| Frank Family Vineyards Napa Green Winery | 2014 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Winston Hill | 20 |
| Miner Family Winery | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | 19 | |
| Davies Vineyards | 2012 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Diamond Mountain District | Jamie's Select | 18 |
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