Volcanic Soils at Elevation Energize New Releases From Immaculate Napa Valley Estate
Courtesy of Arkenstone | Photo by Jak Wonderly
Arkenstone, a high-elevation Napa Valley estate winery specializing in volcanic Cabernet Sauvignon & Sauvignon Blanc from meticulously farmed Howell Mountain vineyards, is proud to announce the release of the winery’s 2018 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 Estate Blanc, and 2021 "Godward Vineyard" Cabernet Sauvignon.
While Arkenstone’s Estate Blanc has long been celebrated as a benchmark Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc among sommeliers and collectors, winemaker Sam Kaplan decided to hold back select estate blocks to make a separate Reserve Sauvignon Blanc bottling. Intentionally aged five years before its release, Kaplan was inspired by the wines of the late Didier Dagueneau from France’s Loire Valley, studying the movements and going so far as to work with the very same large-format barrel cooper as Dagueneau’s legendary domaine: Atelier Centre France.
Courtesy of Arkenstone | Photo by Jak Wonderly
Owners Susan & Ron Krausz purchased the Howell Mountain property that would become Arkenstone in 1988. Looming at 1,400 to 1,650 feet over St. Helena, the Krausz’s were awed by the setting of their panoramic mountain perch. They set out to honor the integrity of their land as best they could, spending the ensuing decades with great thought and care, planning out what is now their 42-acre Arkenstone Estate Winery. Today their son Jake Krausz serves as the National Brand Ambassador for Arkenstone. His fingerprints have been on the estate since his teenage years, when he helped pull rocks and and plant vines into the steep vineyard terrain of the property.
The choice was made to move slowly and carefully in development of the estate, to maintain and nurture the native plant and animal species and respect the contours of the land. With the completion of the vineyards, the impressive underground winery caves and the tasting room looking out over the vineyards, the Krausz family released their first vintage (2006) in 2008. The barn was finally finished in 2019, and the much-anticipated cave tasting salon hosted the first guests in 2022.
Courtesy of Arkenstone | Photo by Jak Wonderly
A true domaine estate–complete with a striking underground cave winery and tasting salon–the Krausz family have been farming their vineyards organically since the beginning. Arkenstone was in fact one of the very first to commission the first-ever fully electric, driver-optional Monarch tractor designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Estate vineyard is organically farmed in-house by its long tenured, full-time crew. With a commitment to quality as well as to sustaining the property’s precious resources, the team takes advantage of carefully chosen new techniques/technology that become available. From pruning to leaf thinning, to pre-dawn harvests, working with the Estate’s own vineyard team makes this meticulous farming possible.
Courtesy of Arkenstone | Photo by Jak Wonderly
The wines are as defined by their soil vitality as they are by rising star winemaker Sam Kaplan. Sam joined as founding winemaker in 2006, and now oversees the day-to-day farming and winemaking at the Howell Mountain Estate. Please find Arkenstone’s latest vintages below:
2018 Arkenstone Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (SRP: $225) – 100% Sauvignon Blanc, the grapes destined for this wine are selected at harvest, when Kaplan singles out only the blocks that he believes have the ideal balance of ripeness and acidity to thrive with the extra year in oak and additional time in bottle. Aged for 2 years in barrel before bottling and aging an additional 4 years. **Only 50 cases produced**
2021 Arkenstone Estate Blanc (SRP: $145) – The Estate Blanc is done in the Bordeaux style of winemaking, including a small percentage (6%) of Sémillon in the final blend. As with many Bordeaux châteaux, Arkenstone utilizes large concrete eggs for the vinification of the Blanc as well as new and once-used French oak. Though easy to enjoy, this wine is more intellectual than it is quaffable, with serious mineral drive and texture. Originally planted in 1997, grapes are grown in very steep, rocky vineyard blocks of compacted volcanic ash on the Howell Mountain Estate. The well-draining, red Aiken Loam and White Tuff soils yield a concentrated but balanced Sauvignon Blanc. 420 cases produced
2021 Arkenstone Godward Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP: $195) – From an idyllic ten-acre parcel on a gentle downslope on the Rutherford Bench, the Godward Cabernet is a testament to the Krausz family’s close relationships with special, family-owned vineyards in Napa Valley. Sam oversees the farming of Arkenstone’s rows within this site. A tremendous expression of valley-floor grapes from a mountain-top winery, this Cabernet is produced in the same fashion as Arkenstone’s flagship Estate Red. 265 cases produced
