Vintage Insights from winemaker John Giannini
Crafting exceptional wines is both an art and a challenge. Our rugged, mountainous terrain demands that every grapevine work harder, resulting in wines with unparalleled depth and character. As we continue to move through the 2024 vintage, I’d like to offer a glimpse into the progress of our recent vintages, from the soon-to-be-released 2021 and 2022 wines to the early stages of our 2024 vintage.
2021 Mount Veeder Reserve Red Blend: Concentration and Complexity
The 2021 vintage marks a pivotal moment for Mount Veeder Winery. With a focus on quality, we’ve refined our relationships with growers who are not just knowledgeable but also deeply intuitive, adapting their practices to the unique demands of each season. For us, this vintage is characterized by low yields and wines with remarkable concentration and complexity. The 2021 Mount Veeder Reserve Red Blend, in particular, stands out for its powerful yet balanced profile, offering rich notes of dried herbs, soil, and savory elements, all while maintaining a vibrant structure.
2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: Expanding Excellence
In 2022, we expanded our focus on quality by reducing volumes to ensure only the finest fruit made it into our wines. The 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a testament to this commitment. Blended with a showstopping lot of Merlot, this wine is aromatic, expressive, and ready to be enjoyed now.
2023 Vintage: High Expectations in the Barrel
The 2023 vintage is currently resting in barrels, undergoing its second racking. I’m thrilled with the progress so far, especially with the Cabernet Sauvignon from Rosenquist and North Ranch. The wines exhibit great color, aromatics, and density, and I’m confident they will evolve beautifully as they continue to age. This vintage also marks a departure from our historical use of American Oak, as we’ve shifted to 50% New French Oak to lend a less reductive style to the finished wines.
2024 Vintage: Managing the Heat
The 2024 growing season has presented its own set of challenges, with hot temperatures and increasingly lower yields. However, our meticulous approach to canopy management and the natural airflow experienced by our clusters have set the stage for even ripening and balanced flavors. The vines are showing a promising balance between canopy and fruit load, giving us high hopes for another outstanding vintage from Mount Veeder.
As we continue to nurture these wines, I am reminded that working on Mount Veeder is not for the faint of heart—but the rewards are always worth the effort. I’m excited to share these vintages with you and look forward to the moments they will create at your table.
Thank you for being a part of our journey.
Cheers,
John Giannini
Winemaker, Mount Veeder Winery
2021 Mount Veeder Reserve Red Blend: Concentration and Complexity
The 2021 vintage marks a pivotal moment for Mount Veeder Winery. With a focus on quality, we’ve refined our relationships with growers who are not just knowledgeable but also deeply intuitive, adapting their practices to the unique demands of each season. For us, this vintage is characterized by low yields and wines with remarkable concentration and complexity. The 2021 Mount Veeder Reserve Red Blend, in particular, stands out for its powerful yet balanced profile, offering rich notes of dried herbs, soil, and savory elements, all while maintaining a vibrant structure.
2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: Expanding Excellence
In 2022, we expanded our focus on quality by reducing volumes to ensure only the finest fruit made it into our wines. The 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a testament to this commitment. Blended with a showstopping lot of Merlot, this wine is aromatic, expressive, and ready to be enjoyed now.
2023 Vintage: High Expectations in the Barrel
The 2023 vintage is currently resting in barrels, undergoing its second racking. I’m thrilled with the progress so far, especially with the Cabernet Sauvignon from Rosenquist and North Ranch. The wines exhibit great color, aromatics, and density, and I’m confident they will evolve beautifully as they continue to age. This vintage also marks a departure from our historical use of American Oak, as we’ve shifted to 50% New French Oak to lend a less reductive style to the finished wines.
2024 Vintage: Managing the Heat
The 2024 growing season has presented its own set of challenges, with hot temperatures and increasingly lower yields. However, our meticulous approach to canopy management and the natural airflow experienced by our clusters have set the stage for even ripening and balanced flavors. The vines are showing a promising balance between canopy and fruit load, giving us high hopes for another outstanding vintage from Mount Veeder.
As we continue to nurture these wines, I am reminded that working on Mount Veeder is not for the faint of heart—but the rewards are always worth the effort. I’m excited to share these vintages with you and look forward to the moments they will create at your table.
Thank you for being a part of our journey.
Cheers,
John Giannini
Winemaker, Mount Veeder Winery