This project was started in 2013 by Jaime Araujo, scion of Daphne and Bart who purchased the famed Eisele Vineyard in 1990 and partner in Accendo Cellars following the sale of Eisele to Pinault in 2013. It is built around wines with a focus more akin to her decades in Europe, "with the goal of making fresh and precise wines of time and place."
They are crafted with native yeast, little to no new oak and picked for freshness and vibrancy with lower ABV. For me, they all show varietal precision and purity. For the newer wine drinker, they also offer tremendous relative value for Napa Valley wines.
2023 Rosé of Pinot Noir- Crisp and fresh with flavors of red apple, cranberry and red currant. It's a dry expression with plenty of lift and juiciness. Loads of freshness, due to its "traditional" style of being intentional rosé.
2022 Chardonnay- From the Muir Hanna Vineyard in the Oak Knoll District. No malolactic fermentation whatsoever and neutral oak (if one single new barrel in a vintage). This is a crunchy and fresh expression of Chardonnay with no manipulation at all. Golden and green apple, Bartlett pear with a touch of persimmon flavor. It has mouth-watering acidity and is lively, perfect for a range of food. Fans of flinty Chablis will enjoy this style.
*This was a vineyard source for fruit that Chateau Montelena used in their Judgement of Paris-winning Chardonnay, along with Bacigalupi.
2023 Sauvignon Blanc- This is about 2/3 Musque clone, so it definitely speaks more to my style of a tropical, lush and less pithy/cat pee expression of SB. Nose of papaya, gooseberry and zested Buddah hand. On the palate, it's luscious and tropical with great acid. Lovely texture. Loads of green pear, passionfruit, lime zest, lemon and a touch of lychee. It has persistent acidity keeping it fresh from start to a lingering finish.
2021 Merlot- A red-fruited expression with aromas of currant, red an black cherry with hints of mint and basil. On the palate, it's crisp and high-toned. Red fruits lead with some black cherry and barely ripe boysenberry. It's very dry with good minerality, all kept light with good acidity. There is a slight touch of herb without being "stemmy."
2022 Merlot- Similar in tone and style, but in a more round, slightly more luscious expression exhibiting more ripeness in its fruit and vivacity.
2021 Rancho Pequeño Cabernet Sauvignon- It's always fascinating to taste Cabernet, pure and simple. No extraction or influence of oak at all, just the grape itself. Loads of fresh currant and cassis with a touch of blackberry and boysenberry. It has wonderful freshness and purity that is brighter leaning, even somehow on the darker fruit tones. No leafy or stemminess here at all, but sits "just ripe" retaining verve and backbone. Fans of stainless or amphora-aged wines will enjoy this style and I submit, anyone who likes food with wine vs wine-in-place-of-food, will find pleasure here.
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