info@BRANDnapavalley.com | BRANDnapavalley.com PAGE | 1

   

November 15, 2014

BRAND Napa Valley

Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

94 pts

“Immense without being weighty, showing earth- and tobacco-laced currant and dark berry notes, with a pure, rich aftertaste.”

High on Pritchard Hill, Brand Stakes Its Claim

By Aaron Romano

Rising on the slopes of the Vaca Mountains east of Oakville, Pritchard Hill provides sweeping panoramas of the valley floor and the surrounding countryside, which is covered with blue oaks, ghost pines and chaparral. Though you rarely see it listed on a label, Pritchard Hill is the source of some of California's most outstanding Cabernets. One of the newest and most successful wineries on the block is Brand Napa Valley.

Brand’s proprietor, Ed Fitts, spent 40 years in the business world, more than half of that as Founder of Dopaco Inc., which manufactures environmentally friendly packaging for companies such as Burger King and McDonald's. He

 

info@BRANDnapavalley.com | BRANDnapavalley.com PAGE | 2

retired in 2004 and knew little of the wine industry before purchasing a home, along with 110 acres, on Pritchard Hill the following year.

Fitts, 75, was drawn to the area by its natural beauty and stunning views. Unbeknownst to him, his neighbors were some of the top wineries in Napa, including Colgin, Ovid, Continuum, Chappellet and Bryant Family. "Once we understood where we were, we had to take advantage of what was here," says Fitts. So in 2007 he hired high-profile winemaker Philippe Melka, who had just left Bryant Family the previous year and was familiar with the region.

Pritchard Hill is broken into three rugged ridges, with red-hued shallow soils laden with iron and volcanics. Brand is situated on a plateau that ranges from 1,200 to 1,500 feet in elevation along the southernmost portion of the hill, flanking Colgin's IX Estate block. A mere three acres of poorly managed vines were planted on the estate when Fitts arrived. But after two failed attempts to make wine from them, Fitts and Melka decided to replant and expand. "The quality wasn't there," recalls Melka. "It seems silly and obvious, but you have to aim to make the best wines possible."

Melka and Fitts next broke ground on a winery, which was finished in 2012, and began a lengthy process of vineyard development. There are now 12 acres of vineyards spread over an upper and a lower portion, with 14 different blocks broken into parcels. The lower portion, at 1,250 feet, is planted to Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The temperatures are slightly cooler at this elevation, allowing the wines to retain a natural vibrant acidity.

At 1,475 feet, the warmer upper vineyard is planted mainly to Cabernet Sauvignon. Facing south-southwest, with the most sun exposure, this site was a lengthy undertaking; massive boulders strewn across the landscape had to be blasted to make way for plantable land. Walking the vineyard, you can still find dynamite fuses inside holes drilled into the boulders that frame the vineyard.

Brand Napa Valley's first vintage was in 2009, and Melka and Fitts are still learning the vineyards. Starting with the 2012 vintage, they will introduce a proprietary Bordeaux-style blend, as well as an entry-level Cabernet called Brio. "We wanted to make sure we were on a firm ground before growing," says Fitts. "If you do too many things all at once, you can lose quality. I wanted everything done well before expanding."

The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon ranks as one of the top wines of the vintage, one of only four wines to score 94 points. It is complex and robust without being weighty, offering an array of rich fruit, earth and spice flavors. Wines from

 

info@BRANDnapavalley.com | BRANDnapavalley.com PAGE | 3

Pritchard Hill fared better than most of Napa in 2011. The abundant sunshine and frequent breezes allowed for more favorable conditions and even ripening.

"This particular area—the furthest west—provides a combination of complexity and layers with ripe but powerful tannins, which is a hard combo to find," says Melka, who deems the wines a perfect blend of sophistication and intensity.