Peter Franus has made wines in Napa Valley for over twenty-five years. Philosophically and stylistically, he relies on intuition and a minimalist approach to winemaking. He believes that the more you manipulate and hover over a wine, the greater the likelihood you will diminish its personality. After eating and drinking with him over the course of many years, we felt confident he had an excellent sense of what we were looking for in our own wine.

2006 Grassi Cabernet Sauvignon.
2006 was a long growing season which provided us with excellent fruit, and a lower yield than the 2005. As a result we produced only 650 cases of the 2006. Winemaker Peter Franus says this about the 2006 Grassi Cabernet Sauvignon, “A vibrant, and dark ruby color announces the depth of the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon. It slowly and cautiously reveals an opulent nose of cassis, black cherry, vanilla, cardamom, anise, and sweet toasty oak. Never heavy, the palate reflects the aromas with a refreshing liveliness and the right degree of acidity. The tannins are present and ripe, but never overbearing and sustain a long finish that suggests many years of development.”

$60 /bottle                Purchase Now


2009 Napa Valley Ribolla - Introducing the Ribolla!!
  George Vare, who is a fanatic of all things Friulian (a region in the North East corner of Italy), grows about 3 acres of this varietal, and has been making a small quantity under his own label, “Vare”.  It is, by far, one of our favorite white wines and we felt privileged last year when George approached us and offered to sell some of his crop. It is an aromatic white, that while having the ability to age, also is a wine that can be readily consumed now.  Dan Dawson describes the Ribolla, “This wine starts with a rich fresh nose of lemon oil, apricots, red apple, white flowers, and cream.  As it opens, more lemon verbena is released.   On the palate the taste balances density and bright acidity. The wine finishes subtle and sleek”.  It is the perfect wine to start a summer evening and/or complement light fare.

$28 /bottle                 Purchase Now