Bergman, Proprietary Red Wine, Napa Valley, California, 2021

Overview of the Wine
Pioneer and adventurer Florentine Kellogg settled on the land in October of 1846. Kellogg was drawn to the site’s lush forests, abundant game, and the rugged sense of community among outdoorsmen. Upon successful completion of the ironwork for the neighboring Bale Grist Mill, Kellogg was awarded a 600-acre parcel where he planted fruit — including a 2-acre vineyard — before selling his property to the prominent Lyman family. The redwood stakes found here mark historic vines harvested in 1891 to Berger and Riesling by Mr. Lyman.

After nearly a century of stewardship, the Lymans sold their property to the Heinemann family in 1970. Consistent with the spirit of the Kelloggs and Lymans, Carl Heinemann and his four young children ushered the land into a new era. Over more than a decade, the Heinemann family cleared rocky forest and oak woodland to plant to Pinot Noir and Riesling vines. The grapes were sold to Joseph Phelps, to become one of the earliest single-vineyard-designation wines in Napa Valley in the 1970s. 

The newest era for our land began in 2013, when the vineyard was replanted as Bergman by renowned vineyard manager, David Abreu. With exacting attention paid to soil depth and consistency, sun and shade patterns, as well as the slopes, Abreu matched varieties and rootstocks to each distinctive micro-climate to achieve consistent maturity of fruit. The vineyard is certified organic and we follow regenerative farming practices throughout each step of production.

Winemaker
Nigel Kinsman

Grape / Blend
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 6% each of Petit Verdot and Merlot

Origin
Napa Valley, California

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Our Proprietary Red Wine is driven by Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, with touches of Merlot and Petit Verdot. The composition is always distinctive, but aromatic consistency transcends vintage.  

On the nose, deep blue and spiced black fruits give way to layers of wild herbs and delicate floral aromas. The palate surprises with its vibrancy and firmness of structure. Cool, ripe fruit is layered with savory forest notes that come forward on the finish. Signature flavors include Wild Blueberry, Plum, Cherry, Lavender, Thyme, Rose Petal, Baking Spices, and Dry Forest Floor.

98 Points - The Wine Palate
This 2021 Proprietary Red Wine was made at Mending Wall by Graeme MacDonald, and the élevage and bottling were done in the newly finished estate cellar by Nigel Kinsman. It is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, and 6% Merlot, aged for 30 months in French oak, 95% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it sails out of the glass with fragrant notes of candied violets, lavender oil, and mint tea, leading to a core of wild blueberries and warm cassis with a touch of raspberry coulis. The full-bodied palate shimmers with black and blue fruit layers, framed by wonderfully fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and so, so perfumed. 250 cases made.

Food Pairings: Grilled Lamb, Grilled Steak, Roast Beef, Venison
Drinking Window: 2026–2050 

98 Points - James Suckling
So luscious, broad and velvety, this saturated wine coats the palate with ripeness and richness on a full body. It’s the debut vintage from a new wine estate. Red and black cherries, raspberries, cocoa, vanilla bean, bay laurel and a touch of black olives. Melts in the mouth, offering such creaminess and depth on powdery, superfine tannins. Drink or hold.

97 Points - Decanter
A stylish and polished wine with lifted blackberry and blueberry fruit, accented by graham cracker spice, fragrant new cedar, sage, and spearmint. Full-bodied, it showcases powerful Spring Mountain tannins that are robust and deeply embedded on the palate.

97 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
The inaugural release, the 2021 Proprietary Red Wine checks in 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 6% each of Petit Verdot and Merlot, all aged 30 months in 95% new French oak. This deep ruby/plum-hued beauty offers a killer nose of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, new leather, graphite, and chocolate. A rich, full-bodied, concentrated 2021, it has a layered, elegant mouthfeel, perfectly integrated oak, plenty of tannins, and a great finish. It needs 3-5 years of bottle age (if not more) but is a stunningly complete, layered, impressive Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon that readers will love. This is a tiny estate and there's not much wine produced, but buy it if you can find it.

96 Points - Wine Advocate
Bottled after approximately 29 months in French oak barrels (95% new), Bergman's inaugural release—although not the first vintage made off this small Spring Mountain vineyard—is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc and 6% each Merlot and Petit Verdot. The 2021 Red Wine, made with the advice of consultant Nigel Kinsman, is fragrant and floral, combining hints of sage, bay and violet with strong underlying notes of black cherries. Cocoa and vanilla nuances from the oak are also present on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is dense and concentrated yet simultaneously silky and fine, with a lingering, elegant finish.

Product size: 750ml