Single-vineyard Cabernet Franc from the Happy Canyon Vineyard, planted in sandy soils with its own rootstock. This wine emulates the Loire Valley well, showing tomato leaf, pyrazine, and some red fruit in the background.
Single-vineyard Melon de Bourgogne from Bien Nacido vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley. This is a super unusual grape to find in California and the old vines here make a wine reminiscent of the great Muscadet wines in the Loire Valley.
Atypical Zin, from 50-year-old vines; drier than most, and not jammy or booze-heavy. Well balanced, with notes of dark cherry and black pepper. Endless food-pairing possibilities.
The ultimate Old World/New World wine collaboration between Rothschild and Mondavi. It took the two of them four years to approve a label that suited them both.