Yount Ridge
California
Celia Welch is one of Napa Valley’s top winemakers. An early introduction to grapes came as she and her siblings pulled berry from stem at the family’s home in Southern Oregon for her father – an avid collector and home winemaker. The family regularly visited Napa and Sonoma where Celia became entranced with the beauty of rolling vineyards.
In 1982 with a degree in Enology earned at UC Davis, she set out to a few wine regions in the Pacific Northwest, the East Coast, and New Zealand. She worked harvest in the Barossa Valley of Australia, and then settled in Napa Valley to refine her craft.
In the early nineties she chose to focus on independent wine consulting. The wines she has made create a microcosm of Napa Valley, from vineyards on Mt. Veeder, Atlas Peak, and Howell Mountain to those in Carneros, and from benchland vineyards from St. Helena to Napa.
Celia was named one of Forbes.com Top Ten Tastemakers of 2006 and inducted into the Winemakers Hall of Fame by the national educational organization, Women for Winesense.
Yount Ridge Cellars fruit is from our Oakville estate vineyard (next to Cardinale and across Hwy 29 from Far Niente and a stone’s throw away from Opus One). The vineyard is over 20 acres and is organically farmed to Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot, Petite Verdot and Malbec for blending. The vineyard also includes Sauvignon Blanc and the Sauvignon Musque clone, which is rare in Oakville.
While EPIC is elevated through the winemaker’s selection of the best barrel of each vintage, our Red Blends and Cabernets are the basis for that choice, and equally intense. Bright cherry, dark fruit, cool mint, chocolate, gorgeous, full and lush are some of the magnificent characteristics of our vineyard fruit.
Yount Ridge Wines
Yount Ridge Epic
Yount Ridge Cellars EPIC is always a reflection of balance, complexity and flavors of the vineyard using only its finest lots in barrel.
The aromas on our collection‐worthy flagship wine are forward and intense, showing blueberry, marionberry, cranberry, a hint of rhubarb and raspberry. The entry is balanced, soft yet solid. The finish is dense and structural though not coarse. Flavors at the finish show spiced plum, citrus zest, and a sweet earthy note, all wrapped in very fine‐grained tannins that deliver the age‐worthiness of this more weighty Cabernet.
95+ Vinous
Yount Ridge Proprietary Blend
Winemaker Notes: Exotic, perfumed and complex with curing spice and intense notes of dark chocolate, mocha, and raspberry. Cocoa powder entry with blackberry, exotic and woodsy notes. Spicy, medium – full bodied blend is nicely balanced between fine grained, espresso lined tannins. Will drink beautifully for a decade.
37% Petite Verdot
35% Merlot
25% Malbec
3% Cabernet Sauvignon
Yount Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon
Very forward aromas of spice, earth, root beer and raspberry show the range of Cabernet dimensions in this bright, ripe rendition. Broad at entry, the mid palate shows black cherry notes, along with cola, warm baking spices, cassis and red currant flavors. The finish is long and structural, with a fresh natural acidity. Dense, supple and sinewy.
Yount Ridge Sauvignon Blanc
This should be called “Epic.”
Lemongrass, guava, passion fruit, flint, a touch of creamy vanilla and bright, fresh pineapple dominate the aromas of this intensely aromatic wine. On the palate, the entry is broad and immediately flavorful with tropical fruit essences, caramel and delicate jasmine and orange blossom combined in a layered and lingering finish.
A blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Musqué, the fruit was hand harvested then destemmed and gently pressed. After cold-settling for 72 hours, the clarified juice was gently racked, then barrel fermented. The wine was left sur-lie for six months with bi-weekly battonage.