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When  I learned winemaking in Bordeaux most wineries still made wine that was meant for the ages. Things have changed since but I liked that tradition and I decided to maintain it in my project. I built my palate on the wines of the 70’s and the 80’s from the very extensive cellar of my in-laws. I really liked it! Traditionally families would buy wines knowing they would have to wait 20 year to drink it. A lovely tradition developed where basically the previous generation was buying for the next. I like this tradition because it created a sense of continuity, a deeper feeling of family  and very importantly a legacy.

In this spirit, from the inception of Hesperian Wines, I kept a good portion of my wines in perfect conditions in a climate controlled warehouse for release when the wines were ready to drink. You now get the opportunity to purchase perfectly matured wine without having to wait.

2016 Hesperian Cabernet Sauvignon
Kitoko Vineyard ~ Atlas Peak ~ Napa Valley

In 2016 Vintage, the Kitoko Vineyard reached new heights of quality, boasting meaty, savory aromas, along with notes of spicy poached black cherries, espresso, minerals, mulberry, and a hint of caramel on the finish. It’s a structured, noble bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon that will age 15-20 years effortlessly. 

 

Alcohol level: 14.8 %
Cépage: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Élevage: 20 Months in 64% new French oak
Production: : 285 cases
Optimal drinking window: 2020 – 2036

2016 Hesperian Cabernet Sauvignon
Witha ~ Napa Valley

Comprised of 50% Atlas peak fruit and 50% Coombsville fruit from Hagen road, this is a luscious mouthful of Cabernet with notes of dark chocolate, poached cherries, blackberry, and blackcurrants. It will age another 10 years without a doubt.

Alcohol level: 13.9%
Cépage: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Élevage: 20 Months in 31% new French oak
Production: 405 cases
Critical acclaim: 93 Points The Wine Advocate, 93 Points James Suckling,  93 Points Jeb Dunnuck
Optimal drinking window: 2020 – 2030

2016 Hesperian Cabernet Sauvignon
Pawa ~ Napa Valley

With a toasty, Pauillac-like profile, this has plummy and sweet fruit, with aromas that are the essence of ripe Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, a distinctive leathery-fruity smell of its own. The Wine Advocate noted its notes of “licorice, tar, black soil and sautéed herbs over a core of cassis, plum preserves and espresso with a hint of bouquet garni.”

Alcohol level: 13.8%
Cépage: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Élevage: 20 Months in 25% new French oak
Production: 197 Cases
Critical acclaim: 93 Points James Suckling
Optimal drinking window: 2020—2024

2015 Hesperian Cabernet Sauvignon
Kitoko Vineyard ~ Atlas Peak ~ Napa Valley

This wine has it all. Made from 10 tons of fruit from 14 acres, low yields caused by “shatter from hell,” according to Philippe - this flaunts notes of tiramisu, black cherry liqueur, spicy oak, and money ink. The Wine Advocate loved its “cassis, crushed blackberries, cigar box and Marmite toast nose with hints of Chinese five spice and dried mint.” Gorgeous red and black fruit aromas interplay effortlessly.

Alcohol level: 14.4%
Cépage: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Élevage: 20 Months in 80% new French oak barrels.
Production: 300 cases
Critical acclaim: 94 Points The Wine Advocate, 93 Points James Suckling
Optimal drinking window: Now-2035

2015 Hesperian Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley

With a toasty, Pauillac-like profile, this has plummy and sweet fruit, with aromas that are the essence of ripe Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, a distinctive leathery-fruity smell of its own. The Wine Advocate noted its notes of “licorice, tar, black soil and sautéed herbs over a core of cassis, plum preserves and espresso with a hint of bouquet garni.”

Alcohol level: 14.5%
Cépage: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Élevage: 20 Months in 50% new French oak barrels.
Production: 300 cases
Critical acclaim: 93 Points James Suckling
Optimal drinking window: 2020—2030

2014 Hesperian Napa Cabernet Sauvignon
20% Atlas Peak, 30% Coombsville , 50% Napa Valley

This wine is a luscious mouthful of Cabernet with notes of dark chocolate, poached cherries, blackberry, and blackcurrants. It will age through 2028 handily. James Suckling loved its “Aromas of blackberries and blueberries with hints of sweet tobacco. Full body and solid and chewy tannins. Powerful finish. Structured and rich red.

Alcohol level: 14.7%
Cépage: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Élevage: 19 Months in new French oak barrels
Production: 250 cases
Critical acclaim: 93 points James Suckling 
Optimal drinking window: 2019-2030

2014 Hesperian Cabernet Sauvignon
Kitoko Vineyard ~ Atlas Peak ~ Napa Valley

This wine is defined by its soft, silky texture that walks on little cat feet. Margaux-like, it’s seamless and juicy, with beautifully defined tannins. Sweet blackcurrant juice, huckleberries, anise, and blackberry make for a wine Robert Parker called “Stunning.”

 

Alcohol level: 14.6%
Cépage: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Élevage: 20 Months in 80% new French oak barrels
Production: 250 cases
Critical acclaim: 93 Points The Wine Advocate, 93 Points James Suckling, 93 Points Jeb Dunnuck
Optimal drinking window: 2019 - 2027

2013 Hesperian Cabernet Sauvignon
Kitoko Vineyard ~ Atlas Peak ~ Napa Valley

Characterized by a very dusty, complex goût de terroir, not unlike a Pritchard Hill wine, this wine brims with notes of marzipan and cherry jam that waft from the glass in a very expressive way.  Broad, powerful yet silky and rich with complex notes of tea, earth, blackcurrants and spices. It has a great purity of fruit. Lively, lifted, structured. Last Tasted: June 2018.

 

Alcohol level: 14.6%
Cépage: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Élevage: 20 Months in 80% new French oak barrels.
Production: 250 cases
Critical acclaim: 93 Points James Suckling, 92 Points Decanter
Optimal drinking window: 2018-2035

2012 Hesperia Cabernet Sauvignon
Kitoko Vineyard ~ Atlas Peak ~ Napa Valley

2012 is the first vintage Philippe produced from Kitoko Vineyard. On release, the wine showed beautiful aromas of raspberry, blueberry, anise and spices. A big, powerful wine that retains a sense of balance and elegance, today the wine opens with a minty, mossy overtone, exhibiting notes of preserved plums, mulberry, and blackberry. Once a very tannic wine, its structure has served it well and it retains a youthful personality. 

Alcohol level: 14.6%
Cépage: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Élevage: 20 Months 70% new French oak barrels
Production: 250 Cases
Critical acclaim: 93 Points James Suckling
Optimal drinking window: 2020-2030

1010 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
57% Hagen Vineyard -Coombsville , 43% Paul's Vineyard -Napa

This is a dark, mysterious and oh so succulent wine. Loads of cassis, cassis budwood, boxwood, cedar, sweet tobacco and blood. A rich, dense, balanced and creamy wine with crunchy, classy tannins. Ripe, dark fruits meld with flowers, smoke, licorice, tar and mineral as this fresh and vinous red opens up in the glass. There is a wonderful purity and sheer density to the fruit that caresses the palate all the way through to a very long cassis stem finish.

Alcohol level: 14.4%
Cépage: 77% Cab Sauv , 23% Cab Franc 77% Cab Sauv , 23% Cab Franc
Élevage: 19 Months, 60 % new French Oak
Production: 287 Cases
Optimal drinking window: 2015-2030

2008 Hesperian Cabernet Sauvignon
Harry's Vineyard, Coombsville, Napa

Ruby colored with a lighter edge. A very complex and beguiling nose of plum, red cherry, orange rind, licorice, clove, nutmeg, floral notes like peony, sweet tobacco. The mouthfeel is super soft and rich with notes of blackberry, peppermint, salty caramel and a savory character. The finish is very long, seamless and juicy and savory with a pronounced earthiness.

                                                                                                                                       

Alcohol level: 14.7%
Cépage: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Élevage: 19 Months in 60 % new French Oak
Production: 50 Case
Optimal drinking window: 2015-2030

2008 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford
Toms Vineyard

Lighter ruby red color. A classy nose with spearmint, blackberry, raspberry, caramel, mandarin and a hint of sweet tobacco. The mouthfeel is smooth, dense, precise, fresh with a long finish.

Alcohol level: 14.6 %
Cépage: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Élevage: 19 Months, 60 % new French Oak
Production: 50 Cases
Optimal drinking window: 2020-2030

2008 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Larry's Vineyard, Mount Veeder, Napa

Dark ruby color, The nose start with a lot of earthiness that progressively lifts to reveal powdery floral aromas, and minty, chaparral (growing all around the vineyard).The wine is smooth and dense. A slight graininess towards the finish end indicates the wine is still a few years of life.

Alcohol level: 14.5%
Cépage: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Élevage: 19 Months, 60 % new French Oak
Production: 50 cases
Optimal drinking window: 2020-2030

2008 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Jeff's Vineyard, Yountville, Napa

Dark ruby color. The nose exudes strawberry candy, licorice, blackberry, sweet grassiness, and orange. The biggest of the four wines. Dense and smooth with loads of red fruits on the finish. Still slightly chewy

Alcohol level: 13.9%
Cépage: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Élevage: 19 Months, 60 % new French Oak
Production: 50 Cases
Optimal drinking window: 2020-2030

2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
56% Harry's Coombsville, 25% Tony's Spring Mt and 19% Tom's Rutherford

2007 produced very classical wines. This wine was created by blending the wines coming from three vineyards. A hint of orange appears on the rim. It is delicious now (03/16/20) with floral notes mingling with blueberry, blackberry, mint, and a hint of leather. The wine is medium-bodied, very balanced, silky, and plush. It marries gracefully power and finesse. An extremely long finish with floral notes, laurel, violet, and dried fruit. This wine still shows fresh fruits, yet it also exhibits tertiary notes of forest floor, mushrooms,

Alcohol level: 14.4%
Cépage: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Élevage: 19 Months in 37.5% new French oak
Production: 387 cases
Optimal drinking window: 2015-2027

2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
Harry's Vineyard

2005 was the second vintage of my Hesperian project. The weather was cold, and grapes ripened slowly, and I waited until late October to harvest. These conditions are prone to produce wine that takes a few extra time in the bottle to let the tannins settle down and soften. Not conducive to big, bold drink now wines, but perfect for my classic Bordeaux style of winemaking. Fifteen years since harvest and 13 years resting in ideal cellar conditions, the 2015 Harry’s Vineyard is drinking at the peak of its potential.

Alcohol level: 14.7% by volume
Cépage: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Élevage: 19 Months in 100 % new French Oak
Production: 150 Cases
Optimal drinking window: 2015 -2030

2004 Hesperian Cabernet Sauvignon
Harry's Vineyard

2004 is my inaugural Hesperian release. For my first few years in Napa I was content making wine for other wineries.  But, being a young and rambunctious I was eager to show the world I could make a classic cabernet that would stand the test of time. The wine boasts delicate flavors of cherry, cranberry, loam, orange rind and minerality. The mouthfeel is soft and rich with a silky entry, a round midpalate and a still slightly tannic finish with lingering flavors of iron, blood and red fruits                                                                                                                                          

Alcohol level: 14.7%
Cépage: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Élevage: 19 Months in 60 % new French Oak
Production: 170 Case
Optimal drinking window: 2015-2030