KENZO ESTATE
NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA 2020
WHY BUY:
Kenzo is one of our “black book” estates, the kind we talk about with friends and hope to preserve, for as long as possible, as an insider secret. But it’s hard to keep this relative Napa unknown on the down low, not when it continues to rack up high scores and praise as a winemaker’s winery. And this is assuredly one of their best bottlings yet: a Bordeaux-style blend built from all five of their high-elevation, estate-planted varietals, aged for 20 months, and showing off every bit of their signature one-two: the power and sinuousness that will please nearly any crowd, and the exactitude and sense of balance that speaks directly to the discriminating connoisseur.
THE VINTAGE:
The 2020 vintage challenged Napa winemakers like few others before. By harvesting before the fires and maintaining ruthless selection standards, Kenzo created a wine of excellent concentration and perfect balance: a testament to the estate's high-elevation terroir and the winemaking team’s keen judgment.
OUR TASTING NOTES:
Imagine yourself in the middle of Kenzo's pristine 3,800-acre estate, surrounded by nothing but Napa wilderness, and you'll begin to understand what makes this wine so compelling: a quiet, commanding majesty. Soaring aromatics of sage and dark chocolate form the opening salvo, followed by more subtle notes of pie crust, black pepper, saddle leather, vanilla, and fig jam — a complex bouquet that rewards repeated exploration, like discovering pockets in a favorite old jacket. The palate delivers on this aromatic promise with a silky, soft texture that somehow manages to convey both luxury and restraint. This is a wine of genuine power, but what's remarkable is how that power is kept in check, so that you’re able to also appreciate its dimension and energy. The silken finish lingers like a conversation you don't want to end.
THE STORY:
When video game mogul Kenzo Tsujimoto fell hard for Napa Valley after the historic 1976 "Judgment of Paris,” he didn't just dream of making wine. He began scheming up an entire world. In 1990, that dream came into view: an extraordinary 3,800-acre mountain preserve that’s five times the size of New York's Central Park, with just 150 acres planted to vine. Protected within this sanctuary are spring-fed reservoirs, pools, streams, and diverse forests where wild boar, coyote, mountain lion, and deer all roam without fence or human intervention. A respite, in other words, from the outside world, and one that makes for one of the most beautiful and unusual settings in all of Napa. It would almost seem that wine, here, is an afterthought. In fact, though, nothing could be further from the truth, and Tsujimoto has, from the very beginning, emphasized that he would be exceptionally choosy when it came to apportioning space for the vineyards and, also, when it came to selection of his fruit. All of that, of course, is to our great benefit, as fans. These are, year in and year out, some of Napa’s most elegant and refined wines.
THE METHOD:
What happens when you assemble one of Napa's most extraordinary winemaking teams (among them, famed viticulturalist David Abreu, who has grown grapes for Screaming Eagle, Staglin Family Vineyard, Colgin Cellars, and Harlan Estate; and, until 2022, the great Heidi Barrett), and give them access to fruit from meticulously groomed, high-elevation vineyards with diverse terroir? The 2020 Rindo, that’s what. Marine fog, pulled into the mountain valley from the San Pablo Bay, blankets the estate during early morning hours of the growing season, suppressing summertime temperatures and extending the harvest period. This cooling effect allows clusters to achieve ideal ripeness while preserving organic acidity and phenols, resulting in rich, concentrated flavors.
WHAT TO PAIR IT WITH:
For all its size and power, this is an exceptionally food-friendly wine, with remarkable balance. An herb-crusted rack of lamb is an easy call here; you’ll love the way the wine's sage notes will echo the herbs, while its vibrant fruit will provide a wonderful counterpoint to the meat's richness. Also excellent: a well-aged ribeye or pan-seared duck breast with a cherry reduction; all that richness and fattiness will be brought in line by the wine's structure and elegance.
FUN FACT:
Kenzo Estate is not Tsujimoto’s only venture; he and his wife, Natsuko, are also the proprietors of Kenzo Napa, a Michelin-starred restaurant in downtown Napa.
OUR GUARANTEE:
As always, we only buy and source directly from the estate, to ensure perfect provenance. Don’t hesitate to secure your bottles or cases today.
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Fall 2025. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer only valid in CA, GA, FL, MA, NV, VA, & TX. This offer is valid for TWO WEEKS, or until sold out, and will expire on Sunday, June 1st, 2025.