REVANA CABERNET SAUVIGNON & ALEXANA PINOT NOIR

“[Thomas] Brown's wines are much like the man himself—reserved and intellectual, refined in style. He has proven a master at taming Cabernet's aggressive tendencies and giving the wines a Burgundian mystique.” – James Laube, Wine Spectator
 

Napa Valley is known for its stellar Cabernet Sauvignon, but what makes for a great wine in a sea of good wines? Vintage variations aside, I’d argue that winemakers who champion the grapes and individual terroirs—instead of just implementing their personal winemaking “style” within the winery—are the ones who produce the most compelling and memorable wines today. Thomas Rivers Brown won Food & Wine’s “Winemaker of the Year” in 2010 and is rapidly becoming one of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon winemakers in the Valley. He’s worked with top wineries like Turley and Schrader (including working on their Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet) and has now joined Revana Family Vineyard, the feature of today’s offer. The 2016 Terroir Series Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from Oak Knoll, St. Helena, and Calistoga and saw 14 months in 85% new French oak and an additional 12 months of bottle age. The wine has an ethereally rich texture and seamlessly weaves notes of blueberry, mocha, tobacco, and a slate-like minerality. It showcases the ability of this elite winemaker to craft Cabernet Sauvignon that is bold, pure, and built to age: classic Napa Valley. 
 

The Revana family made their name crafting Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley, but along the way also developed an interest in pursuing Burgundian-inspired Pinot Noirs. In 2005, The Revana name expanded into Oregon’s Willamette Valley, the provenance of some of the highest quality domestic Pinot Noir. We’re pleased to also offer the 2016 Alexana ‘Revana Vineyard Estate’ Pinot Noir to demonstrate the Revana winemaking team’s range; the two wines are of course radically different styles, but a commitment to purity of fruit and structure is apparent in both wines. The Pinot Noir is made by Alexana’s Vineyard winemaker, Bryan Weil, who worked with Domaine Serene and Hogue Cellars before joining Alexana. His Revana Estate Pinot Noir is 100% estate fruit from dry-farmed vineyards within the Dundee Hills AVA. The grapes undergo whole berry fermentation to limit tannin extraction and are matured for 11 months in 33% new French oak. This wine demonstrates why global winemakers are investing in Oregon: the wine is silky and textured, with notes of Bing cherry, cinnamon, tea leaves, and a finish that goes on and on. 
 

Brown’s wines have continually received critic and consumer acclaim over the years, but don’t expect to see a “sameness” among his wines. While many winemakers may tout their “terroir-focus,” Brown walks the talk of his little-intervention philosophy, which has certainly also influenced the Alexana style. Today’s wines balance elegance with power and demonstrate the character of their respective vineyard plots with impressive clarity. We’re confident both wines would make fine additions to any cellar (or wine fridge) and are offering both wines at special Concierge pricing for one week only, or until sold out.