The Land
Crystal Springs
At just over 11-acres planted between 550 and 850 feet in elevation on the slopes of Howell Mountain, the Crystal Springs Vineyard is fully western facing and a warmer site which will generally mean an earlier harvest. Conversion to dry-farming at this site is nearly 95% and it’s only this site where Cabernet Sauvignon is planted on a quadrilateral trellis system. Alluvial gravels derived from volcanic rock are largely consistent throughout, making this site our most uniform terroir.
Impact & Soils
Lending a specific style and complexity to our VASO Cabernet Sauvignon is the fruit from the 11.35-acre (4.59 hectare) Crystal Springs Vineyard. Accounting for about 20% of the blend in any given vintage, the singular power of this vineyard distinctly makes its mark on the character of the wine. Alluvial gravels derived from volcanic rock provide good drainage at Crystal Springs. While this site drains well there is a great balance of water retention due to the highly decomposed state of these gravels. Fractured bedrock allows for the vines’ roots to travel deep beneath the surface to search for water -- a significant condition given our commitment to convert this vineyard to dry farming.
Soil Types
Alluvial
Gravels
In the Wine
Black fruit, powerful tannin profile, moderate acidity
Clonal Selections
Cabernet Sauvignon: 337, 8, SEE
ROOTSTOCK
Cabernet Sauvignon: 1103P, 110R
elevation and uniformity
Spanning an elevation of 550 to 850 ft (167 – 259 meters) above sea level on the sheer slopes (35 to 40 degrees) of Howell Mountain, Crystal Springs blankets one very even hillside visible from the valley floor. Crystal Springs benefits from full western exposure and a uniform topography. The vines see warm days and a moderate diurnal swing resulting in powerful tannins and moderate acidity.
viticulture
These are our only vines trained to a quadrilateral trellis system -- so pruning this vineyard is an entirely different endeavor from any of our other sites. The vines were planted in 1994 containing clones 337, 8, and SEE.
To understand VASO, you must first understand the land upon which the grapes are grown. VASO represents our four distinct vineyard sites spread throughout the Napa Valley. Whether it be through the technical and measurable characteristics of slope, aspect, soil type, sunlight hours, or the more spiritual intangibles that make a site unique and lend the fruit its singular personality, the land is the vital core of our wines and our vision for the future.