2014 Hayfork Wine Co Cabernet Sauvignon Lewelling Ranch Napa Valley 750 ml

Parker’s “Extraordinary Site” Sought After by Caymus

Robert Parker Jr. himself has raved about the Cabernets made from Lewelling Ranch for the past two decades, saying that “one can’t say enough about the wines produced at this extraordinary site.” The gravel-dominated site in the foothills of the Mayacamas has been farmed continuously by the Lewelling/Wight family since 1864 — the longest such streak in Napa Valley. The site, sought after by producers like Caymus, is right next door to the Beckstoffer Bourn Vineyard, which regularly sees 95+ Parker scores. Hayfork’s wines are made by sixth-generation and highly talented winemaker Haley Wight, so it’s no surprise that the 2014 Hayfork Cabernet Sauvignon Lewelling Ranch earned an impressive 93 points from The Wine Advocate. The dark and intense 2014 Hayfork Lewelling Ranch, a gorgeous Cabernet from one of the most historic and celebrated sites in Napa, shows that Wight has delivered.  Elsewhere $75, today from Wine Access $59.99.

Many Napa wineries pay homage to their past, but the history of Lewelling Ranch is truly one-of-a-kind: The estate was planted in 1864 by John Lewelling, a man so influential that he has been dubbed the “Father of California Horticulture.” Since that time, the property has been farmed by the Lewelling/Wight family, making it the longest continuously farmed piece of land in Napa. For the past 40 years, the vines have been managed by fifth-generation grower Doug Wight, who also manages an additional 500 acres of prestigious vineyards for clients in Napa.

Situated in the benchlands of the Mayacamas mountains, Lewelling’s 80 vineyard acres owe their glory to the erosion that has taken place on the hillsides over centuries, resulting in the gravel and alluvial deposits that are extremely beneficial to Cabernet. The story of this fruit is not only told by Hayfork’s impressive scores, but by the two decades of raves that have accompanied the wines of Lewelling Vineyard, one of which Parker said reminded him “of a top vintage of Screaming Eagle… it’s that good.” He has called Lewelling simply “one of my favorite producers in Napa Valley.” At Hayfork, Hayley Wight is simply carrying on that family tradition: Stellar Cabernet made from the top-flight fruit of one of the top sites — and most established winemaking families — in the Valley. Secure yours now.