Winemaker Dave Guffy
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Donald Hess founded the Hess Collection Winery on the slopes of Mount Veeder in the Southern Napa over 25 years ago. Today the impressive modern cellar delivers exceptional quality wines sourced from the Napa Valley and the Mount Veeder region. Set in a stunning landscape looking out over the Mayacama mountain range, the winery also boasts an impressive collection of Mr. Hess’ private collection of art which can be viewed in the gallery at the winery.
Winemaker Dave Guffy, at the helm since 1999, believes in ‘making wine in the vineyard’. A lot of Dave’s attention is focused on growing the flavours and characteristics which he then works with in the winery, sculpting the wines into ‘ ripe, fruit forward Californian styles with power and elegance’.
"We use traditional artisan techniques, such as using open- and closed-top fermenters and a combination of punch down and sprinkling over for gentle extraction of color, flavor and tannins, without developing harsh phenolics. The wine was allowed to cold soak for 48 hours and spent an average of 14 to 21 days on the grape skins to develop deep flavors and color. The finished blend was barrel aged 12-13 months in 25 percent new French oak. All vineyards were picked by flavor - not grape sugar level - looking for fruit profile and tannin ripeness. " DG
Tasting Note :
Black cherry, chocolate and caramel aromas come first with subtle spice and barrel toast as secondary themes. The palate reinforces cherry and currant and carries ample weight on the mid palate. The tannins are present but ripe and round and lead to a persistent finish.