Mending Wall Winery: A Boutique Winery for Napa Cab Lovers
Indulge the literature nerd in me for a moment as I quickly examine Robert Frost’s poem “Mending Wall” from which the most memorable line is “Good fences make good neighbors.” The ultimate message of “Mending Wall” the poem is that though there is a manmade wall between two neighbors, the ritual and tradition meeting to repair its imperfections brings people together. The wall actually brings a sense of community and connectedness. Thus, “Good fences make good neighbors.” One visit to Mending Wall the winery and you know that it’s no secret as to why it carries the name – drinking wine as a proverbial mending wall – an act of community meant to bring us all together.
Okay, so we’ve come together to drink wine – but Mending Wall wines are something different. They’re glorious. They’re unique and full of personality – just like each of us. Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown (TRB), the first American winemaker to ever receive a perfect score from Wine Spectator magazine, delivers some big time conversation starters. We jumped in with Stone on Stone, a white Bordeaux built on Sauvignon Blanc, but loaded with Semillon that creates an exquisite viscosity and permeates lovely stone fruits, white flowers, and pleasant acidity. However, the foundation of Mending Wall (pun intended) is Cabernet Sauvignon. We tasted a vertical of ‘14, ‘15, and ‘16 – each unique to terroir – ‘14 mostly from Pritchard Hill (probably my favorite in the lineup), ‘15 steeped with Yountville and Valley floor fruit (a perfect contrast to ‘14 with bright acidity and lovely red fruits), and ‘16 from St. Helena and Howell Mountain vineyards (everything you want in a youthful Napa Valley Cab). At $85 a bottle, these wines punch well above their price point. And if these Cabs weren’t enough, the “rock”star of this visit was the 2016 Tournahu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon – an opulent, rich, grippy, powerhouse of a wine – if it was the only wine that was served, the entire visit would have been worth it.
And the visit is well worth it. Mending Wall is a very small project, producing only 2,500 cases a year. The winery, just like the wine, is something to behold. The industrial chic interior is a reminder that everything is a work-in-progress, a space that blends perfectly with the rural St. Helena setting – creating a truly unassuming, warm, inviting atmosphere. Couple all of this with exceptional hospitality (a huge thank you to Amy for hosting us and making us laugh over and over) makes Mending Wall a must visit destination when you’re up-valley.
Location: 3730 Silverado Trail N, St Helena (slow down once you pass Rombauer if you’re going north, or Bale Lane if you’re headed south – it’ll sneak up on you).
Highlights: Friendly and knowledgeable hospitality; vertical tasting of the ‘14, ‘15, and ‘16 Cab Sauv; beautiful property and tasting room.
Must try Wines: 2016 Tournahu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon; ‘14, ‘15, ‘16 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Visit: Open by appointment only. Tastings start at $35 per person.
