The 2021 vintage was a gift from Mother Nature. The year commenced with little rain, leading to an early budbreak with the second year of drought conditions in Napa Valley. Mild spring temperatures allowed for an easy renewal to the growing season with temperatures rising in the summer months, accelerating the start of harvest. With smaller canopies protecting the clusters, more sun was allowed in, quickening the ripening of the grapes in a way we have not seen before. One of the earliest harvests on record, we picked some red varieties on Mt. Veeder before we had finished picking the Oakville estate for the first time in our history! A small yielding vintage, we were able to harvest all seven acres of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot in three picks over six days. In low yielding vintages, we truly see the power and excellence of our mountain terroir. While Cabernet Sauvignon is truly a standout from our Mt. Veeder Estate, we have crafted a unique and beautiful blend which focuses on the other varieties we grow in very small quantities.
The 2021 Crossroads Mountain Blend begins with plush forest boysenberries, olive tapenade, and a warm cedar spice. With every swirl of the glass, the aromatics change, revealing notes of roasted fennel, dried flowers, and sweet blackberries. On the palate, the full-bodied nature of this mountain wine is present filling the palate with generous black cherries, red currants, and a soft sweetness of plums. The palate grows showing notes of dark, roasted coffee, pencil shavings, and a dusty, yet firm tannin structure, building up to a long-lasting finish. This wine is a true testament to a great growing site and lives up to the pedigree of our other Mt. Veeder wines. A bold wine, we enjoy with a decadent array of different cuts of meat straight from the grill.