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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,

1985 Opus One

Capsule condition issue; mid shoulder fill

1985 Opus One

Capsule condition issue; top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

1981 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon

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

WS  93   

1987 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; base neck fill; light label condition issue

WS  93   
RP  90   
WS  #40 of 1990   

1985 Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; base neck fill; label condition issue

RP  91   
WS  90   
WS  #2 of 1990   

1985 Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon

Light label condition issue

RP  91   
WS  90   
WS  #2 of 1990   

1985 Joseph Phelps Eisele Cabernet Sauvignon

Lightly depressed cork

RP  93   

1981 Joseph Phelps Insignia

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

1983 Joseph Phelps Insignia

Base neck fill; light label condition issue

1986 Joseph Phelps Insignia

Light capsule condition issue; label condition issue

WS  93   
RP  90   

1987 Joseph Phelps Insignia

1.5ltr

Label condition issue

WS  96   

1988 Joseph Phelps Insignia

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

1989 Joseph Phelps Insignia

5.0ltr

Capsule condition issue; signs of past seepage; base neck fill

1983 Joseph Phelps Insignia Auction Reserve

6.0ltr

Capsule condition issue; light label condition issue

1983 Dominus Estate

Capsule condition issue; very top shoulder fill; heavy label condition issue

RP  90   

1983 Dominus Estate

Light label condition issue

RP  90   

1984 Dominus Estate

Light label condition issue

RP  92   

1988 Dominus Estate

Heavy capsule condition issue; label condition issue

RP  91   
5 available
Bid *

1988 Dominus Estate

Light capsule condition issue

RP  91   
3 available
Bid *

1989 Dominus Estate

Light capsule condition issue; lightly elevated cork; signs of past seepage; light label condition issue

RP  92   
WS  91   
2 available
Bid *

1980 Shafer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

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

1980 Shafer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

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

1988 Shafer Vineyards Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon

Capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; light label condition issue

1983 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Light capsule condition issue; base neck fill; light label condition issue

1984 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Capsule condition issue; base neck fill; light label condition issue

RP  93