Tom Garland

9.5

Firehouse restaurant winemaker dinner with Keith Emerson of Vineyard 29.

WINES:
2021 Vineyard 29 Cru sav blanc
2021 Vineyard 29 Aida Estate Zinfandel
2021 Vineyard 29 Estate cab franc
2021 Vineyard 29 Aida Estate merlot
2019 Vineyard 29 Estate cab sauvignon
2019 Vineyard 29 Aida Estate cab sav
2013 Vineyard 29 Estate 100 pt cab sav

FOOD:
Shrimp & Rock crab cake
Braised Duck spring roll
Herb crusted lamb loin
BBQ short rib raviolo
Grilled Venison w/confit turnips/candied fig
Hazelnut fig cake — a month ago

with Brenda

Andy Mc Nees

9.3

Stunner at $25 — 6 years ago

Tim Crakes

9.0

Gun Bun does it again. Always shocked with how great their wines are for the money. Wines I believe are still being made by Keith Emerson. Cakebread, Martin Ray alum and cohort of Phillipe Melka. With how long these wines have been around, I still consider them an insider’s find. Under $20 a bottle. — 7 years ago

Oliver Seaman

9.5

“Give me wine to wash me clean of the weather-stains of cares”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson — 8 years ago

Paul T HB

9.9

Mag,
2nd day is essential, opened yesterday & decanted 4 hours today. This is right there with the 2005.
Its been 4 years since my last 07, it still has plenty of life but why wait when you can decant🤷🏼‍♂️
The 29 Estate vineyard is situated on the east-facing hillside at the base of the Mayacamas range, a couple miles north of St. Helena and just above Highway 29. The soil here is clay loam with gravel deposits, deeper at the bottom of the slope and shallower and rockier toward the top (the Sauvignon Blanc is planted in the rockiest spot, followed by the Cabernet Franc and then Cabernet Sauvignon). The slope and soil content ensure good drainage, while the rocks and gravel allow the roots to penetrate deep, ensuring more stable vines and more consistent ripeness. Average yields here for Cabernet Sauvignon are a moderate 2.8 to 3.2 tons per acre, held down by the vine stress associated with steep vines.

Vineyard 29 is located in the narrow hourglass part of Napa Valley and benefits from consistently good air flow. Even in 2008, there was just a touch of frost at the bottom of the vineyard, according to McMinn, who noted that his Aida vineyard just two miles to the north is typically six or seven degrees warmer. The site also benefits from its eastern exposure, capturing early morning sunlight but with the mountain above protecting the vines against the most intense afternoon sun. The result is slow, consistent ripening of the grapes and healthy sugar levels with much less risk of desiccation, which in turn means rounder, more integrated tannins. Although St. Helena is a very warm region, day-night temperature variation at Vineyard 29 is among the widest in Napa Valley, according to McMinn.

Thanks to Vineyard 29’s well-aerated site and protection from the hottest afternoon sun, the estate Cabernet always has sound acidity; it has never been acidified, according to winemaker Emerson. The pH of the Vineyard 29 estate wine is typically between 3.75 and 3.9, and alcohol levels are moderate by Napa Valley standards, almost always in the high 14s (with 2009 the only vintage to have exceeded 15%). The wines are frequently characterized by black and blue fruits—cassis, blackberry, blueberry—and notes of chocolate, licorice and spices. Compared to the Grace Family Vineyards wine, made from a vineyard barely 200 yards to the north from the same plant material, the Vineyard 29 wine is characteristically a bit less floral and delicate but riper and denser, combining power with typically plush, ripe tannins. Emerson noted that Vineyard 29 is typically harvested at least a week later than the Grace site, noting that the tannins “take a long time to lose their chalky character and come around.” Luckily, he added, “the fruit here can hang for a long time without getting too crazy with sugar.” And the estate routinely picks in two passes, typically seven to ten days apart.

— 4 years ago

Jason Rosenblum

9.4

@Patrick Emerson drinking so awesome tonight with Pascal — 8 years ago

with Dorit

Neil Valenzuela

9.2

Deep ruby color. Aromas of cherry cola, vanilla with a floral accent. Lovely earthy, dusty cherry, simply delightful!

🥇92 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
🥇90 Points - Robert Parker — 5 years ago

Shannon Saunders

9.0

#fabulousgirlswinesociety
October 2019!

Beautiful label ‘Adopt the pace of nature; Her secret is Patience’ ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mother Nature is intriguing and elusive, reigning with grace and beauty. There is no doubt that she is the one True Myth. We respect her for the enigma that she is and honour her with a beautiful Cab Sav - smooth wine loaded with blackberry & cherry, touch of caramel.

Enjoyable, love the label - intrigued me to try and so glad I did! — 5 years ago

Chris Harvey

9.3

Bone dry, granny smith apple, lemon verbena, lime zest, back-end bready, toastiness. So delicious and unexpected @Patrick Emerson your Instagram is making these folks some 💲💲 — 7 years ago

James Gourley

9.1

Seemed a little thin and lifeless at first, but improved with time. The bottle was overfilled and some wine had come through the cork. Don't know if that affected things. — 8 years ago