If you’re a fan of Napa Valley wines, 2021 is a vintage you want to seek out! It’s an A rated vintage (Mother Nature smiled on this region), and these gorgeous wines are just starting to hit the market. Be sure to subscribe to our offers here, so you are notified as soon as they are available for sale.
Despite record drought conditions, Napa Valley displays “signs of brilliance” (James Suckling) in “…a dream vintage” (Ashley Hepworth, Winemaker at Joseph Phelps) delivering “…classic, age-worthy wines that will have long lives.” (Jeb Dunnuck). After the devastating wildfires of 2020, it seems Mother Nature has smiled upon California’s premier wine region in 2021, replacing fear and angst with joy and happiness. Napa Vintners and critics alike, are exalting the 2021 vintage; “...Concentration was “through the roof” (Phillip Corallo-Titus, winemaker at Chappellet) and quality, “off the charts” (Nate Weis, Silver Oak and Twomey Cellars) and it is now “…clear that 2021 is a very strong, if not truly exceptional, vintage for Napa Valley.” (Jeb Dunnuck).
The 2021 vintage came, of course, on the heels of one of the most nerve-wracking vintages in memory thanks to the erratic wildfires. Napa’s winemakers were sitting on pins and needles, holding their breath and praying for rain. In the end, the 2021 vintage was that answer. Spring came early and warm, and the growing season proceeded accordingly, with early bud break, early flowering, and earlier veraison than average. As a result, harvest was extremely early and for some, the earliest on record. The summer months were marked by no significant heat events, unlike some other recent vintages, allowing for smooth and even ripening. The valley drifted into a gentle, cool, beautiful fall allowing vintners to pick at their leisure, though grape varietal combined with lack of rain did help determine optimal timing. Renee Ary at Duckhorn explained, “Given the range of ripeness, blending will be important for the 2021 vintage as we balance our early and later picks.”
Even though it was a drought year (one of the driest on record) Napa’s chief grape varietals excelled, and it “…appears to be a classic vintage in the making across the board in both red and white.” (James Suckling). There were fewer clusters and yields were down, but the results were absolutely phenomenal. The tiny berries were packed with color, tannin and flavor. According to David Ilsley, Shafer Vineyard Manager, “…the grapes regulated themselves to deliver an excellent crop” with “great texture, concentration and length.” The resulting wines are nothing short of sensational, with Pinot Noirs having a remarkable “…combination of aromatic brilliance with tight and pure fruit” (James Suckling) while Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot were “some of the best ever…” (Renee Ary, Duckhorn Vineyards). Nate Weis of Silver Oak and Twomey Cellars reported, “…a pretty intense vintage – concentrated and powerful” particularly the Pinots, Merlot and Cabernets. This is also “a great white year” (James Suckling); Chardonnays are bright, balanced and focused. Veteran wine critic, Jancis Robinson explains, “Wines made from all varieties show greater flavor concentration, natural intensity and good ageing potential.” (Jancis Robinson)
From the valley floor to mountain grown fruit and the benches and lower hillsides in between, the best wines are well-structured and powerful (without being too big) with a lot of fine-quality tannin with supportive acidity lending a great sense of brightness and energy. The overwhelming outcome has elated vintners and drawn praise from around the region. Hope Goldie of Darioush Winery exclaims, “…the wines are juicy, luscious, and concentrated with a sense of freshness and elegance.” After dealing with the 2020 vintage, Luc Morlet of Morlet Family Estate discussed the positives of a drought year, inclining, “…It is more classic, with good vibrancy, freshness and concentration.” Representatives at Turnbull Winery described the vintage as, “Fresh and opulent, with athletic grace” while Senior Winemaker at Robert Mondavi Winery, Kurtis Ogasawara explains, “it has power…good intensity and freshness.” With such great quality in 2021, it is believed they will be long lived and collectible for people who appreciate concentration and structure; granting “…rewards from this vintage for decades to come.” (Phillip Corallo-Titus)
Cheers!