For the first time since we made this wine in 2016, we took it in a new direction. Historically, our Spring Mountain Cabernet was exclusively clone 15 from Keenan’s Big K vineyard, while our clone 7 Cabernet was reserved to create McLintock. But when our winemaker Philippe Melka suggested we make a single wine that showcases the best this vineyard has to offer, we did just that. And our 2022 Spring Mountain Cabernet is simply spectacular – Clone 15 lends the dark black fruit characteristics and a layered, complex structure, while Clone 7 lends more deep red fruits, softer floral aromatics and silky tannins. The wine is deep purple/ruby-hued and offers a bouquet of brambly blackberries, black cherry, raspberries, wildflowers, dried herbs, walnuts and Connecticut tobacco. It has a savory, dense palate that is full-bodied, layered, and complex with intense, yet smooth tannins. This wine is the perfect balance between powerful and graceful.
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
AVA: Spring Mountain
Vineyard: Keenan Big K
Clone: 15 & 7
Elevation: 1750ft -1850ft
Rootstock: 110R
We source clone 7 and clone 15 Cabernet Sauvignon from a single block of the historic Keenan “Big K” Estate Vineyard, which sits at the highest elevation on the property. The Spring Mountain appellation is defined by small vineyards planted on terraces and sloping meadows, and wineries hidden from view among dark forests and steep winding roads. Over the years, despite its limited space and remoteness, the appellation has produced an abundance of wines acclaimed worldwide for the unmistakable intense flavor and delicate, balanced tannins that are now the signature of Spring Mountain wines. Flint Knoll is honored to work with the Keenan family to source fruit and make wine from this legendary location.
Exclusively Clone 15 Cabernet Sauvignon from Keenan’s Big K vineyard, our 2021 Spring Mountain wine offers a classic Spring Mountain bouquet of blackberries, dark currants, brambly underbrush, tobacco, earth and leather. It builds beautifully on the palate and is full-bodied, layered, and complex with intense, balanced tannins. Clone 15 is known for its ageability due to its solid structure and high levels of anthocyanins – cellar it with confidence as this mountain Cabernet will gracefully age for decades to come.
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Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
AVA: Diamond Mountain
Vineyard: Andrew Geoffrey
Clone: 15
Elevation: 1998ft
Rootstock: 110R
Andrew Geoffrey Vineyard is 13 planted acres of prime hillside red wine grapes on the highest slopes of the Diamond Mountain district sub-appellation of the Napa Valley. Diamond Mountain is located along the Mayacamas mountain range between St. Helena and Calistoga. The Diamond Mountain AVA is well known and recognized for its diversity of volcanic soils, varied micro-climates, and generous amounts of winter rainfall.
Nestled among the rugged eastern ridges of the Napa Valley, Melanson Vineyard is one of a handful of exceptional vineyards that share an enchanted slope called Pritchard Hill, which is unquestionably one of the greatest terroirs in the Valley. This area is known for producing big, dense and complex Cabernet Sauvignons and our 2022 Marquess is no exception. It is a deep garnet-purple color and exudes a beautifully complex bouquet of black cherry, dark currants, mocha, and sweet tobacco leaf. Hitting the palate it’s powerful, juicy, and full-bodied with creamy tannins, and a perfectly structured finish. A classic Pritchard Hill Cabernet at every turn.
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Pritchard Hill, Napa Valley
Clone: 7
Elevation: 1200ft
Rootstock: 110R
Vintage: 2022
Pritchard Hill is known for producing big, dense and complex Cabernet Sauvignons. Greg Melanson has been growing Cabernet Sauvignon on Pritchard Hill since the 1980s. Flint Knoll sources from a single southeast facing block planted on a steep, rock face where the vines struggle for water and nutrients. This is ideal real estate for world – class Cabernet. Vines grow at elevations from 1,100 to 1,350 feet above sea level, in fractured serpentine and clay soils laden with igneous and seabed rock.
Our 2021 Melanson Vineyard Marquess Cabernet Sauvignon exudes a beautifully complex bouquet of crème de cassis, ripe blue fruits, cacao powder, tobacco and graphite. Hitting the palate it’s powerful, full-bodied, and concentrated with wonderfully integrated acidity, a chalky minerality, polished tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish.
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Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
AVA: Howell Mountain
Vineyard: Ciminelli
Clone: See
Elevation: 2200ft
Rootstock: 110R
Perched at the summit of Howell Mountain, Ciminelli Vineyard is the home of Impensata. The south and east-facing slopes and porous, volcanic soils are ideal vineyard real estate. Planted under the watchful eye of David Abreu, 15 pristine acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Sauvignon Blanc are now flourishing amongst 25 acres of thoughtfully manicured forest.
A bold and commanding beauty, which comes from some of the oldest Clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon vines on Spring Mountain. Dry farmed vineyards yield us a small harvest and rewards us with a ripe, brilliant, and classic Spring Mountain old vine Cabernet. We only reserved two barrels of our Clone 7 Cabernet for the 2022 vintage. This wine is bright, aromatic, and complex and expresses a beautiful bouquet of red plums, currants, and blood orange. Crushed lilac flowers, savory white pepper and spice also run through this impeccably polished mountain Cabernet. It is voluptuously textured, rich, full-bodied and opulent with smooth & well integrated tannins.
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
AVA: Spring Mountain
Region: Napa Valley
Clone: 7
Elevation: 1750-1850ft
Rootstock: 110R
Our Spring Mountain Clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon from the historic Keenan “Big K” Estate Vineyard sits at the highest elevation on the property. The Spring Mountain appellation is defined by small vineyards, sharply inclined terraces and sloping meadows, and wineries hidden from view among dark forests and steep winding roads. Over the years, despite its limited space and remoteness, the appellation has produced an abundance of wines acclaimed worldwide for the unmistakable intense flavor and delicate, balanced tannins that are now the signature of Spring Mountain wines. Flint Knoll is honored to work with the Keenan family to source fruit and make wine from this legendary location.
Our 2021 McLintock Cabernet Sauvignon is aromatic and complex with notes of red and black plums, red raspberries, lots of wildflower and violet nuances, and graphite characteristics. It is voluptuously textured, rich, full-bodied and opulent with long, silky smooth tannins.
Meticulously blended by Flint Knoll winemaker, Philippe Melka, Verdigris brings together our prestigious vineyards on Pritchard Hill and Spring Mountain to create the most elevated expression of Napa Valley hillside Cabernet Sauvignon. With a focus on opulence, finesse, and texture, Verdigris is a wine that transcends terroir, celebrates time, and embraces its journey.
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot
Vineyards: Melanson, Pritchard Hill & Keenan, Spring Mountain
Region: Napa Valley
Vintages: 2021
Our 2021 Royal Appointment weaves together the rich, concentrated elegance and power of some of the best valley floor vineyard sites from Calistoga & Stags Leap. This wine is aged for 21 months in the finest French oak barrels and blended with meticulous care by Philippe Melka. The result – a Cabernet with a complex array of aromas and flavors that delivers a plush, mouth-filling structure with soft, elegant tannins. It offers a bouquet of dusty raspberries & blackberries, plums, dark currants, wildflowers, cacao and spice that follow through on the palate. A bit softer than our single vineyard wines, this wine is drinking beautifully in its youth and will offer greater nuance and complexity with cellaring.
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
AVA: Stags Leap & Calistoga
Region: Napa Valley
Clone: Martini Clone & 169
Instrumental in establishing the Stags Leap District AVA, we source from the coveted old vines of Steltzner Vineyard. A 30 acre site planted to 27 acres of which there is a coveted 5-block section planted to Cabernet Sauvignon dating back to 1976. Farming is done here by well-regarded vineyard manager Jim Barbour and his expert team.
Made in a Right Bank Bordeaux-style, Philippe Melka blends together both varietals and vineyards to create a symphonic compilation of aroma and flavor. Our Spring Mountain Merlot gives this wine its rich, powerful flavor while our Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon provides structure and a layered complexity. Our Shifflett Ranch Merlot lends the velvety texture and profound elegance inspired by the wines of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion. This wine is deep purple-hued, with a rich nose of dark blue fruits, black currants, cassis, crushed violets, leafy herbs, and warm baking spice. It is medium to full-bodied, has silky smooth tannins and a stacked, concentrated mid-palate, lush mouthfeel, and a long, beautiful finish.
Varietal: Merlot
AVA: Spring Mountain & Oak Knoll
Region: Napa Valley
Our Spring Mountain Merlot comes from Keenan’s Mailbox Vineyard. Planted to 11 acres of Merlot in rocky soils, this mountainside vineyard produces some of the finest Merlot in Napa Valley. Sited above the dense layer of fog that creeps up the Napa Valley most evenings, the vineyard warms earlier in the morning and temperatures remain warm throughout the night. The combination of these warm temperatures , steep hillside vine rows, and gravelly soils promotes stress on the vines, leading to increased intensity of flavors and aromas in the finished wine.
