Seavey Vineyard
Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
o One of the best NAPA cabs made by Felippe melckafor decades
o One of the best NAPA cabs made by Felippe melckafor decades
Aug 19th, 2022IloseaveyBilimet Philielkswithvilldeaveyatthewinerybillllhad Philip has his winemaker through the 90s and early 2000s leave Milkha yeahisisgreatdarkfruitwithalittlecigatboxanlesthersogladijustfoubdaboxofit
IloseaveyBilimet Philielkswithvilldeaveyatthewinerybillllhad Philip has his winemaker through the 90s and early 2000s leave Milkha yeahisisgreatdarkfruitwithalittlecigatboxanlesthersogladijustfoubdaboxofit
May 4th, 2021
Day 2 of Napa in the books!
20yrs young! This was also served to us blind and we all guessed it was mid-late 2000s Seavey Cab. All the red and black fruit notes are still present with mellowed out tannin. Very smooth and polished. Big note of baked mixed berry (cherry, blackberry) pie that is covered in a cloud of sweet vanilla pipe tobacco. Ripe & rich up front, savory in the middle, balanced finish. Incredible for its age.
Day 2 of Napa in the books!
20yrs young! This was also served to us blind and we all guessed it was mid-late 2000s Seavey Cab. All the red and black fruit notes are still present with mellowed out tannin. Very smooth and polished. Big note of baked mixed berry (cherry, blackberry) pie that is covered in a cloud of sweet vanilla pipe tobacco. Ripe & rich up front, savory in the middle, balanced finish. Incredible for its age.
Day 2 of Napa in the books!
Seavey’s flagship offering. This is close to 7yrs young and it’s still so youthful! At this point, it’s a back and forth battle between fruit and secondary/herbal notes. Powerful red fruit to the core with cassis & plum with minerality, new leather, and tobacco. A wonderful Napa example of Bordeaux. Long life.
Day 2 of Napa in the books!
Seavey’s flagship offering. This is close to 7yrs young and it’s still so youthful! At this point, it’s a back and forth battle between fruit and secondary/herbal notes. Powerful red fruit to the core with cassis & plum with minerality, new leather, and tobacco. A wonderful Napa example of Bordeaux. Long life.
The nose reveals; dark currants, blackberries, heavy black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries and some blueberries. Black tea, expresso roast, anise, crushed dry rocks, big vanilla, clove, a little nutmeg, dry underbrush, sweet tarry notes, leather, woody notes with dark fresh & withering flower bouquet.
The body is big and lush. The tannins are big, meaty and tarry. Very dark currants. Blackberries, heavy black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries and some blueberries & strawberries as they open up. Black tea, expresso roast, steeped fruit tea, anise, crushed dry rocks, dry clay, big graphite, big vanilla, dark spice, clove, light dry herbs, a little nutmeg, dry underbrush, sweet tarry notes, leather, cedar with violets dark fresh & withering flower bouquet. The acidity is round, fresh and beautiful. The big, long, well balanced finish is excellent and look forward to having this in 15-20 years. This one will be a stunner!
Photos of, the barn where they make wine and hosts tastings, our private tasting area inside William’s old office. William desk and their outside terrace area.
Producer history & notes...Seavey Vineyard is located along Conn Valley Road in the eastern hills of Napa Valley, about 15 minutes from the valley floor.
This historical property was originally a cattle ranch. However, records indicate grapes were planted on some of the hillsides as early as the 1870’s. The stone dairy barn, still in existence, was built in 1881.
William & Mary Seavey purchased this property in 1979. The estate was originally founded by the Franco-Swiss Farming Company in 1881 which, closed down when Phylloxera destroyed their grape vines and the Volstead Act (Prohibition) went into effect. At the time of their purchase, they were a horse and cattle ranch. They quickly planted the slopes with grapes and initially sold their fruit to Raymond Vineyards. They have never purchased grapes, all their wine is made from estate grapes. Their vineyards are separated into 20 plus individual blocks.
Today, the property is about 200 total acres of which, 40 acres are planted to vine. Their hillside vineyards produce low yields of rich concentrated fruit. A small block of Chardonnay grows in a cooler lower part of their property. Besides grapes, they also raise cattle which are used to graze the hillsides. They feed the vineyard with the cattle cuttings. In 2003, they were one of the first Napa wineries to install solar.
Mary passed away in 2008 and William died in 2016. There daughter Dorie returned to the family business and now oversees the winery operations. Her brother Arthur also handles national and some small international sales, primarily to restaurants. However, most of their wine is sold direct to consumers.
Seavey’s first commercial vintage was released in 1990 a year after they renovated the stone dairy barn into a working winery. Today this stone building is the centerpiece of the property and is where tastings are hosted.
Since 2011, Jim Duane has been their day to day Winemaker. He’s worked at Robert Mondavi and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. It should also be noted that Philippe Melka Winemaker/Consultant has been with Seavey since 1995...one of Philippe’s two initial wine making jobs in the Napa Valley were with Seavey and Lail Vineyards.
Seavy makes about 3,200 cases annually depending on what mother nature brings. They make around two hundred cases of Chardonnay, slightly more Merlot and the rest is of the production is comprised of their Caravina and Estate Cabernets.
The nose reveals; dark currants, blackberries, heavy black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries and some blueberries. Black tea, expresso roast, anise, crushed dry rocks, big vanilla, clove, a little nutmeg, dry underbrush, sweet tarry notes, leather, woody notes with dark fresh & withering flower bouquet.
The body is big and lush. The tannins are big, meaty and tarry. Very dark currants. Blackberries, heavy black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries and some blueberries & strawberries as they open up. Black tea, expresso roast, steeped fruit tea, anise, crushed dry rocks, dry clay, big graphite, big vanilla, dark spice, clove, light dry herbs, a little nutmeg, dry underbrush, sweet tarry notes, leather, cedar with violets dark fresh & withering flower bouquet. The acidity is round, fresh and beautiful. The big, long, well balanced finish is excellent and look forward to having this in 15-20 years. This one will be a stunner!
Photos of, the barn where they make wine and hosts tastings, our private tasting area inside William’s old office. William desk and their outside terrace area.
Producer history & notes...Seavey Vineyard is located along Conn Valley Road in the eastern hills of Napa Valley, about 15 minutes from the valley floor.
This historical property was originally a cattle ranch. However, records indicate grapes were planted on some of the hillsides as early as the 1870’s. The stone dairy barn, still in existence, was built in 1881.
William & Mary Seavey purchased this property in 1979. The estate was originally founded by the Franco-Swiss Farming Company in 1881 which, closed down when Phylloxera destroyed their grape vines and the Volstead Act (Prohibition) went into effect. At the time of their purchase, they were a horse and cattle ranch. They quickly planted the slopes with grapes and initially sold their fruit to Raymond Vineyards. They have never purchased grapes, all their wine is made from estate grapes. Their vineyards are separated into 20 plus individual blocks.
Today, the property is about 200 total acres of which, 40 acres are planted to vine. Their hillside vineyards produce low yields of rich concentrated fruit. A small block of Chardonnay grows in a cooler lower part of their property. Besides grapes, they also raise cattle which are used to graze the hillsides. They feed the vineyard with the cattle cuttings. In 2003, they were one of the first Napa wineries to install solar.
Mary passed away in 2008 and William died in 2016. There daughter Dorie returned to the family business and now oversees the winery operations. Her brother Arthur also handles national and some small international sales, primarily to restaurants. However, most of their wine is sold direct to consumers.
Seavey’s first commercial vintage was released in 1990 a year after they renovated the stone dairy barn into a working winery. Today this stone building is the centerpiece of the property and is where tastings are hosted.
Since 2011, Jim Duane has been their day to day Winemaker. He’s worked at Robert Mondavi and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. It should also be noted that Philippe Melka Winemaker/Consultant has been with Seavey since 1995...one of Philippe’s two initial wine making jobs in the Napa Valley were with Seavey and Lail Vineyards.
Seavy makes about 3,200 cases annually depending on what mother nature brings. They make around two hundred cases of Chardonnay, slightly more Merlot and the rest is of the production is comprised of their Caravina and Estate Cabernets.
Lots of life left. This was a classic Napa Cabernet style with a balance of red and blue fruits, solid tannins and a nice acidity. Tertiary flavors have developed but still had a youthful bounce.
Lots of life left. This was a classic Napa Cabernet style with a balance of red and blue fruits, solid tannins and a nice acidity. Tertiary flavors have developed but still had a youthful bounce.
Aug 26th, 2017At 23 years BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL
At 23 years BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL
Jul 24th, 2017
Was worried after initial taste (nose of olives, bitter/sour cherries on the palate, acid, resolved tannins) but it was very good WITH food after about a two hour decant and even more remarkable considering its age. Very well-balanced and smooth. This is the second 20+ year old Seavey that I've had and I'm quite impressed with their ability to age. Though I prefer them with 5-10 years of age vs 20+.
Was worried after initial taste (nose of olives, bitter/sour cherries on the palate, acid, resolved tannins) but it was very good WITH food after about a two hour decant and even more remarkable considering its age. Very well-balanced and smooth. This is the second 20+ year old Seavey that I've had and I'm quite impressed with their ability to age. Though I prefer them with 5-10 years of age vs 20+.
2 people found it helpfulNov 9th, 2015This was an amazing example of Napas ability to age. Fruit was present but the non fruit qualities were starting to express. It was amazing!
This was an amazing example of Napas ability to age. Fruit was present but the non fruit qualities were starting to express. It was amazing!
1 person found it helpfulMay 28th, 2016