The complex and textured palate showcases flavors of blackberry crumble and star anise offset by earthy undertones and toasty oak. Built for your cellar, this wine will age gracefully over the years to come. A true mountain-grown Cabernet, this wine is unmistakably rustic. On the nose, dominant notes of ripe blackberries, crème de cassis and dark chocolate truffles are complemented by bay leaf and fine leather.
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<b>Viticultural Notes:</b><br>
The inaugural release of our Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon lives up to the appellation’s reputation for producing some of the biggest, most age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon. A true mountain-grown Cabernet, this wine is unmistakably rustic. On the nose, dominant notes of ripe blackberries, crème de cassis and dark chocolate truffles are complemented by bay leaf and fine leather. The complex and textured palate showcases flavors of blackberry crumble and star anise offset by earthy undertones and toasty oak. Built for your cellar, this wine will age gracefully over the years to come.
The last to be harvested of all our wines, these grapes were hand-picked in late October. Fermentation took place in small open-top tanks, allowing for precise and gentle extraction of color and flavor. Each lot was aged in French oak barrels and evaluated individually, with the final blend occurring the summer of the following year. In total, the wine was aged for 26 months in barrel (82% new) and a year in bottle.
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<b>Winemaker Notes:</b><br>
Grape growing on Howell Mountain requires the practice of patience. On a sunny yet cool hillside, these inconspicuous vineyards surrounded by a thicket of Redwood trees yield highly concentrated fruit that takes longer to ripen. In 2017, abundant winter rainfall fueled vine growth early in the season. A mild spring, followed by steady warmth in the summer and fall, led to a slightly early harvest with ripe, fruit-driven intensity.
Vibrant aromas of pomegranate and red currant burst from the glass and are complemented by hints of white pepper and black tea. The focused palate unveils the earthiness of Monte Rosso vineyard with notes of crushed clay, Sichuan pepper with citrus overtones of pine and a toasted, brown spice finish. Incredibly balanced, this wine showcases energetic acidity and intent tannins that carry through the long finish.
The Monte Rosso Vineyard rolls across steep, rugged terrain in the majestic Mayacamas Mountains nearly 1,300 feet above the Sonoma Valley. Owned by the Louis M. Martini Winery since 1938, it is named for its rich, red volcanic soils and has produced award-winning wines for three generations. The vineyard’s mix of high altitude, position above the fog line, low-yielding vines and ideal western exposure produces wines with a unique sense of terroir. Monte Rosso is one of California’s most prized locations for wine grapes. Select Cabernet Sauvignon blocks were carefully hand harvested and hand sorted, then gravity fed into small, open top fermenters for cold soak of up to five days. After fermentation, the wine was racked by gravity into oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and aging. The blocks were aged separately for months before the final blend was assembled and sent back to barrel for more aging. The wine was barrel aged for 26 months in a combination of French oak barrels, 75% new, and American oak barrels, 19% new.
Our 2020 Cellar No. 254 Napa Valley Merlot pays tribute Louis P. Martini, who bottled the first varietally labeled Merlot in the United States nearly a half-century ago. Aromas of black tea mingle with dried cherry and cola, before revealing notes of rhubarb pie and red plum on the palate. Luscious and supple, our Merlot delivers a long finish garnished with a touch of freshly shaved chocolate.
Our Monte Rosso Mountain Red is a dark, jammy , juicy red wine with a concentrated and smoothly integrated palate and finish. The intensely aromatic blend wafts with aromas of huckleberry, violets and balsamic, and the rich palate includes a mélange of dark fruit notes, leading to
hints of Luxardo cherry, vanilla and Monte Rosso’s signature spices, including cinnamon and star anise. It has Monte Rosso’s classic frame of balanced acidity and notes of iron. The wine’s depth, mouthwatering fruit and lush mouthfeel display the extraordinary complexity that can
be produced from this world class mountain vineyard.Our Mountain Red is crafted from select blocks on the legendary Monte Rosso Vineyard. Every vintage offers a distinct, vivid expression of this renowned site. The 2015 growing season on the mountaintop was another in a string of warm, dry seasons and one of the earliest we’ve seen. It started with unseasonably warm temperatures in late winter and spring, leading to an early bud break. A cool May during bloom created a smaller than average crop, then mild weather through spring, summer and harvest allowed slow, even ripening that built full
ripeness and complexity. The result was grapes with intense aromatics, concentrated ripe fruit flavors and outstanding structure and balance.
Dark and brooding, our Louis M. Martini Cellar No. 254 Meritage is a full bodied, pleasure driven wine bursting with rich fruit notes. Aromas and flavors of wild blackberries and blueberries are complimented by hints of baker’s chocolate and plum preserves woven with nuanced hints of toasty oak providing a nice lift on the palate.
Dedicated to our backyard vineyard named for the Southern Pacific Railroad fruit packing stop used by the winery long ago, the Thomann Station Petite Sirah is part of our Cellar No. 254 collection. Opaque in the glass, the 2020 vintage boasts aromas of fresh blackberry with underlying characteristics of geranium and graphite. Layers of dark chocolate covered cherry, acai berry with hints of charcuterie coat the assertive yet silky palate.
Our Monte Rosso Cabernet Sauvignon was handcrafted from grapes 100 percent from the legendary Monte Rosso Vineyard. This impressive, full-bodied red wine has great depth and a surprisingly soft mouthfeel for such concentrated fruit. The wine swirls with aromas that include black cherry, earth and the classic Monte Rosso spice. On the palate, it offers red and dark fruit flavors including raspberry and blackberry, plus black fig and hints of dusty chocolate and espresso. Aging in French and American Oak created assertive-but-smooth tannins that melt seamlessly into a lingering, elegant finish filled with flavors of anise, toasted oak and vanilla.
The 2014 season was excellent—dry and warm, with early bud break, steady temperatures and long hangtime. Consistently mellow temperatures through spring and summer let the grapes ripen fully and evenly, then an unusually long harvest gave us concentrated, well-structured fruit with exceptional quality and depth.
The Cabernet grapes were carefully hand harvested by block and hand sorted, then gravity fed into small, open top fermenters for a 3-day cold soak before primary fermentation. After fermentation, the free run juice was drained and the must gently pressed in a 5-ton basket press. The wine was racked by gravity into oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and aging. The blocks were aged separately for months before the final blend was assembled and sent back to barrel to allow the flavors to integrate before bottling. Total barrel aging was 26 months in a mix of 72% new French oak, 16% new American oak and 12% neutral barrels.
This small-lot Cabernet Franc showcases the variety’s signature qualities through the lens of the Monte Rosso Vineyard, where just two blocks of Cabernet Franc are planted. The 2017 vintage features flourishes of ripe red cherry, cranberry and raspberry with tilled earth undertones and subtle hints of orange zest. The finely textured finish rings with acidity, making this wine a versatile food-pairing partner – complex and balanced.
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Our Cabernet Franc was harvested by hand in the cool early morning hours. At the winery, the grapes were hand-sorted, destemmed and crushed in a gentle basket press. They were then gravity-fed to tank for a three-day cold soak to extract flavor and color. Fermentation occurred in small open-top vessels, which allow for highly precise handling of the grapes throughout the entire process. Total aging was 15 months in French oak barrels (52% new), adding touches of cedar and toast to a fresh, layered finish.
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Monte Rosso’s Cabernet Franc vines are an average age of 25 years and sit above the fog line, receiving the ideal combination of sunlight and cool breezes to build layered, complex flavors. In 2017, ample winter rains fueled vine growth early in the season – a warm, steady summer and fall followed, leading to a slightly early harvest with intensely fruit-driven yields.
Our Monte Rosso Cabernet Sauvignon was handcrafted from grapes 100 percent from the legendary Monte Rosso Vineyard. This is an impressive red wine with great depth and a surprisingly soft mouthfeel for such concentrated fruit. It swirls with aromas that include cherry liqueur, earth and the classic Monte Rosso spice. On the palate, the wine offers black cherry, raspberry, black fig, plus more red and dark fruit flavors, all layered over hints of dusty chocolate. Aging in French and American Oak created assertive-but-velvety tannins that melt seamlessly into a long, elegant finish filled with anise, cedar and vanilla flavors.
The 2013 growing season on the Mayacamas and at Monte Rosso was another excellent year in a string of great vintages. The spring was mild and dry, summer was consistently warm but not extremely hot, and fall stayed dry through harvest. That long, consistent hang time allowed for wonderful fruit development, and the mix of steady warm sun and cool nights gave the fruit vibrant color, excellent acidity, intense fruit flavors and rich texture.
The Cabernet grapes for this wine were carefully hand harvested and hand sorted, then cold soaked for up to three days before being gravity fed into 3.5 ton and 7-ton open top fermenters. After primary fermentation, free run juice was drained and the must gently pressed in a 5-ton basket press. The wine was racked by gravity into oak barrels for malolactic fermentation, then aged in separate lots for up to 26 months in French and American oak barrels (72% new French, 16% new American, 12% neutral barrels). The final blend was assembled, then sent back to barrel to allow the flavors to integrate before bottling.
Our 2014 Lot 1 Cabernet Sauvignon has impressive depth, power and complexity—perennial hallmarks of Lot 1—starting with the intense aromas of blackberry jam, boysenberry and crème brulee. The palate has striking power and breadth and is filled with flavors that include blackberry, cherry, black currant and caramel in a plush mouthfeel. The exceptionally long, polished finish evolves with layers of fruit and toasted oak. The fine tannins and outstanding balance of power and elegance will allow this wine to age for decades.
Grapes for this wine were handpicked from several of our premium Napa Valley vineyards, including William Hill, Sun Lake, Cypress Ranch, Sage Canyon and other select growers. The 2018 vintage began, like 2017, with plentiful winter rains. A consistently warm and steady summer eased into a mild fall, resulting in a slightly later harvest that delivered beautifully developed fruit with marked complexity. Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes were carefully destemmed and
transferred to upright tanks for a two day cold soak. To build its round,
elegant mouthfeel, the wine saw 15 to 20 days of maceration time and
was pumped over two to three times daily. Each lot was aged and
meticulously evaluated separately, with the final blend taking place in
May 2019. In total, the wine aged for 16 months in a combination of
French and American oak barrels (40% new).
This small-production wine is 100% Petite Sirah from our Thomann Station Vineyard. This dark and dense wine opens with aromas of lilac, plum, and boysenberry and features notes of fresh-picked blackberries and ripe blueberries with an assertive, elegant mouthfeel. This is Petite Sirah in its purest, most decadent form and will age for decades.
Our Cypress Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a robust single-vineyard wine hailing from the rock-strewn slopes of the Vaca Mountains in northeastern Napa Valley. Highly structured and complex, this Cabernet displays a unique balance of juicy black and blue fruit tones that distinguish it from any other in our collection. Robust notes of cherry pie, baker’s chocolate, cinnamon and nutmeg unfurl on a bed of plush, dusty tannins. Adding to the complexity is a small amount of Petit Verdot, contributing additional layers of spice, boysenberry and a hint of lavender for a pleasurable finish.
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Our grapes were hand-harvested on October 3rd and sorted at our micro-winery, Cellar No. 254. Fermentation took place in small open-top tanks, allowing for precise and gentle extraction of color and flavor. Each lot was aged in French oak barrels and evaluated individually, with the final blend occurring mid July. In total, the wine was aged for 19 months in barrel (84% new) and a year in bottle.
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This Cabernet Sauvignon was carefully selected from Cypress Ranch Vineyard, where high elevation, gently sloping hillsides and a tremendous diurnal shift result in rich, structurally elegant yields. In 2017, abundant winter rainfall fueled vine growth early in the season. A mild spring, followed by steady warmth in the summer and fall, led to a slightly early harvest with ripe, fruit-driven intensity.
Like the gigantic boulders found in the vineyard itself, Stagecoach Cabernet is robust and unhindered. On the nose, aromas of cassis and wild blueberries with hints of baker’s chocolate, bay leaf and camphor waft out of the glass. The 2018 Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons' full-bodied palate is characterized by notes of dense black fruit that linger with subtle notes of cinnamon dusted pastry while the vineyard’s enormous quantities of rugged rock mixed with hard volcanic soil imparts subtle hints of forest floor and clean earth, adding to the complexity. Fresh and youthful, muscular tannins support the concentrated fruit profile and round out the very long, textured finish.
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<b>Winemaker Notes</b><br>
Grapes for this wine were hand harvested from two blocks of our Stagecoach vineyard in October and hand sorted at our micro-winery, Cellar No. 254. Fermentation took place in small open-top tanks, allowing for precise and gentle extraction of color and flavor. In total, the wine was aged for 19 months in French oak barrels (73% new) and a year in bottle.
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<b>Vinicultural Notes</b><br>
From the towering volcanic terrain in the eastern reaches of Napa, Stagecoach is among the most renowned vineyards in the valley. The 2018 vintage began, like 2017, with plentiful winter rains. A consistently warm and steady summer eased into a mild fall, resulting in a slightly later harvest that delivered beautifully developed fruit with outstanding mountainside characteristics.
A blend of Syrah and Grenache from this world-class mountain vineyard, our Monte Rosso Mountain Red is an homage to the great wines of Southern France, with a California twist. Aromas of boysenberry, lilac, blonde roast coffee and prosciutto are unveiled on the nose. Notes of blueberry, pomegranate and damson plum saturate the soft and plush mid palate that is framed by crunchy, gravely tannins.
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The grapes were harvested by hand and delivered in half-ton picking bins. The fruit was hand-sorted, destemmed and partially crushed before being gravity-fed into our open-top tanks for a 3-5-day cold soak before fermentation. Up to 10 days after primary fermentation was complete, the wine was gravity racked into oak barrels for malolactic fermentation. The wine was kept separate in individual lots, then the blend was assembled in summer 2019 and allowed to marry before bottling. In total, the wine was aged for 19 months in a mix of puncheons and French oak barrels (50% new).
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Our Mountain Red is crafted from select blocks on the legendary Monte Rosso Vineyard. Every vintage offers a distinct, vivid expression of this renowned site. The 2018 vintage began, like 2017, with plentiful winter rains. A consistently warm and steady summer eased into a mild fall, resulting in a slightly later harvest that delivered beautifully developed fruit with marked complexity...
On the nose, the 2018 Lot No. 1 vintage showcases enticing aromas of wild blackberries, cocoa and toasted oak supported by notes of brown spice and humidor. The rich, plush palate boasts flavors of shaved chocolate and reduced blackberry compote with hints of cinnamon. The long finish reveals classic oak character and plush tannins.
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<b>Vinicultural Notes</b><br>
Lot No. 1 is something of a mosaic of iconic appellations and vineyards – an assemblage of Napa Valley’s best mountain, benchland and valley floor fruit. The 2018 vintage is comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon from Stagecoach Vineyard, Mount Veeder, Atlas Peak, Howell Mountain and other outstanding sites throughout Napa Valley AVA. From a growing perspective, the 2018 vintage began, like 2017, with plentiful winter rains. A consistently warm and steady summer eased into a mild fall, resulting in a slightly later harvest that delivered beautifully developed fruit with outstanding mountainside characteristics.
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<b>Winemaker Notes</b><br>
Our concept of small-lot winemaking dates back to 1948 when Louis M. Martini began ranking his most exceptional Cabernet lots to use for a special selection blend. We honor this attention to detail with every vintage we make, fermenting Lot No. 1 in small open-top tanks, which allow for a high level of precision when extracting color and flavor. All lots were alternately punched down and pumped over up to four times daily to build the desired foundation for the wine’s mouthfeel. Our barrel program for Lot No. 1 is also unique, with the primary component being 36-month air dried French oak. This longer drying time encourages rich tannin structure throughout the duration of the wine’s 19 months in barrel (83% new).
Our 2015 Lot 1 Cabernet Sauvignon has impressive depth, power and complexity—perennial hallmarks of Lot 1—starting with the intense aromas of plum, black currant and Italian leather. The palate has striking power and breadth and is filled with notes of blackberry reduction, cherry liquor, toasted caramel and much more in a plush mouthfeel. The exceptionally long, polished finish evolves with layers of fruit and toasted oak. The fine tannins and outstanding balance of power and elegance will allow this wine to age for decades.
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We selected the grapes for this vintage from some of the best sites in Napa Valley, including Stagecoach Vineyard and vineyards in Oakville, Stags Leap, Coombsville and on the Silverado Bench. The 2015 season was warm and dry, and one of the earliest we’ve seen. It started with warm temperatures in late winter and spring that led to an early bud break. A cool May during bloom created a smaller than average crop, then mild weather through spring, summer and harvest allowed slow, even ripening that built full ripeness and complexity. The result was grapes with intense aromatics, concentrated ripe fruit flavors and outstanding structure and balance.
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The grapes were hand-harvested in half-ton picking bins and hand-sorted before destemming and partial crushing. Then the grapes were fed into small lot, open top fermenters for a 3-day cold soak before primary fermentation. A small percentage was barrel fermented. The wine remained on skins for more than two weeks with alternating punch downs and pump overs, then was gravity fed and gently pressed in our basket press. Next, the wine was gravity fed into French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and aging. We kept barrel lots separate until the blend was assembled in August then sent back to barrel to allow flavors to integrate. Barrel aging was entirely in French oak, 97% new, for a total of 20 months, then another 12 months were spent in bottle.
The grapes for this wine were selected from some of the most premier Napa Valley vineyards, a mix of valley floor, benchland and hillsides. The 2017 vintage was one of promise and challenge for Napa Valley grape growers, but in the end, fruit was of high quality overall. Plenty of winter rains gave way to healthy vines at the beginning of the growing season. Other than an early September heat spike, the growing season was moderate. Picked just before the October wildfires, fruit yields were average in size with smaller berries possessing big and complex flavors.
Our 2018 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a boisterous wine with an assertive profile, offering ripe notes of black currant, plum, crushed fennel and cedar. Rich and rustic, this Cabernet features distinct brambly undertones and finishes memorably with structured, lingering tannins.
A true mountain-grown Cabernet, this wine is unmistakably rustic. The 2019 vintage opens with aromas of red currant and cherry complemented by undertones of forest floor, thyme and fresh cedar. The full-bodied palate boasts notes of chocolate covered cherries and blueberries that rest on ripe, dusty tannins. This wine will slowly smooth over time, rewarding those who are patient enough to cellar for ten to twenty years.
Our 2019 Monte Rosso Vineyard Mountain Red is a tribute to the great varieties of Southern France. Syrah and Grenache come together with a touch of Zinfandel from our legendary Monte Rosso Vineyard. Aromas of blackberry, violet and blonde roast coffee emerge from the glass while strawberry purée and white pepper fill the midpalate. The tannins impart structure to the blend, pulling a luscious density through to the finish.
Dark and brooding, our Louis M. Martini Cellar No. 254 Meritage is a full bodied, pleasure driven wine bursting with rich fruit notes. Aromas and flavors of wild blackberries and blueberries are complimented by hints of baker’s chocolate and plum preserves woven with nuanced hints of toasty oak providing a nice lift on the palate.
