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Napa Valley

Napa Valley AVA is the most famous winemaking region in the United States and one of the most prestigious in the world. With nearly 43,000 acres of vineyards and more than 300 wineries, it is the heart of fine wine production in the United States. Winemaking started in Napa in 1838 when George C. Yount planted grapes and began producing wine commercially. Other winemaking pioneers followed in the late 19th century, including the founders of Charles Krug, Schramsberg, Inglenook and Beaulieu Vineyards. An infestation of phylloxera, an insect that attacks vine roots, and the onset of Prohibition nearly wiped out the nascent Napa wine industry in the early 20th century. But by the late 1950s and early 1960s Robert Mondavi and other visionaries were producing quality wines easily distinguishable from the mass-produced jug wines made in California’s Central Valley. Napa Valley’s AVA was established in 1983, and today there are 16 sub-appellations within the Napa Valley AVA. Many grapes grow well in Napa’s Mediterranean climate, but the region is best known for Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay is also very successfully cultivated, and about 30% of the AVA’s acreage is planted to white grapes, with the majority of those grapes being Chardonnay,

1949 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; signs of past seepage; light label condition issue

1956 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; signs of past seepage; top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

MB  ***   

1960 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; mid shoulder fill; light label condition issue

1962 Louis M. Martini California Mountain Zinfandel

Light label condition issue

1963 Louis M. Martini California Mountain Zinfandel

Light capsule condition issue; lightly elevated cork; light label condition issue

1963 Louis M. Martini California Mountain Zinfandel

Light label condition issue

1967 Inglenook Pinot Noir

Light capsule condition issue; light signs of past seepage; 4 cm ullage; light label condition issue

1967 Charles Krug Cabernet Sauvignon

Lightly depressed cork; top shoulder fill; light label condition issue; light writing on label

1968 Heitz Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

1968 Louis M. Martini California Mountain Special Selection Pinot Noir

Lightly elevated cork; light label condition issue

1968 Louis M. Martini Special Selection Lot 2 Cabernet Sauvignon

Light label condition issue

WS  90   
MB  ****   

1970 Beaulieu Vineyard Beaumont Pinot Noir

3 cm ullage

1970 Louis M. Martini California Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

Base neck fill; light label condition issue

1973 Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill

Capsule condition issue; lightly elevated cork; base neck fill; light label condition issue

1973 Louis M. Martini California Mountain Special Selection Pinot Noir

Light label condition issue

1973 Louis M. Martini California Mountain Special Selection Pinot Noir

Lightly depressed cork; light label condition issue

1974 Heitz Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

MB  *****   
RP  98   
WS  97   
2 available
Bid *

1974 Heitz Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; mid shoulder fill; light label condition issue

MB  *****   
RP  98   
WS  97   

1974 Heitz Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; top shoulder fill; light label condition issue; signed bottle

MB  *****   
RP  98   
WS  97   

1974 Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow

Top shoulder fill; label condition issue

1974 Diamond Creek Red Rock Terrace

Light capsule condition issue; very top shoulder fill; light label condition issue; light writing on label

VN  95   
WS  92   

1975 Louis M. Martini Private Reserve Merlot

Very top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

1975 Louis M. Martini Private Reserve Merlot

Top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

1975 Cuvaison Cabernet Sauvignon

Light signs of past seepage; top shoulder fill

RP  93   
2 available
Bid *

1975 Cuvaison Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; light signs of past seepage; very top shoulder fill; label condition issue

RP  93