N.V. Christopher Tynan Wines Le Sucrier Velours

Christopher Tynan Wines was founded in 2012 by Christopher Tynan, one of Napa’s rising stars. Tynan has made wine for Colgin Cellars, Chateau Boswell and trained early on with Helen Turley and Jon Wetlaufer at Blankiet Estate. He is now chief winemaker at Lede Family Wines. Tynan is also making his own very limited production Cabernet Sauvignon from grapes sourced in Napa Valley, and, in only his second vintage, he earned 100 pts from Robert M. Parker Jr. Parker wrote this: “Even for someone who has been doing this for thirty-eight years, there are times when you taste something that sort of breaks through all preconceived notions and reference points. I knew Christopher Tynan as a winemaker for Cliff Lede, but this is his wine, and it is outrageously spectacular and incredibly singular and special. The wine is extraordinary.” Tynan’s wines are available only through his mailing list.

Yountville AVA is just west of Stags Leap and north of Oak Knoll. It is centered around the town of Yountville, named for George Yountville, who planted the area’s first vineyard in 1836. The district received appellation status in 1999 and it includes 4,000 vineyard acres. It is known for tannic Cabernet Sauvignon that has a reputation for aging well. Dominus Estate, formerly Napanook Vineyard, is one of the most prestigious producers in Yountville, and in all of Napa Valley.