2019 Vineyard 36 'The King's Storm' Cabernet Franc Napa Valley

Winemaker Notes:  Perched at 1,700’ of elevation along Wall Road on the north end of the Mount Veeder AVA, this 6.5-acre vineyard is destined for greatness. The site was planted and managed by the same man who farmed the neighboring Pym Rae vineyard for Robin Williams for more than two decades, and it is no surprise that the resulting wines are so similar. The sandy, gravel-based soils of shale with a sandstone topsoil produce wines that are black in color with very low PH values and naturally high acids. A perfect combination for longevity. The beauty of this warmer, fog-free northern section of Mount Veeder is that the wines are free of any unwanted vegetal or rustic characteristics that can affect cooler climate sites to the south.

The King's Storm is the latest addition to Vineyard 36's portfolio. Every legend has a legacy. Every wine has a story to tell. To pay homage to those significant nights in both Cam & Tim's first NHL games - we decided that this distinctive wine deserved a significant name. In those moments "The King's Storm" was born - combining "King" from Tim's first team, LA King's and "Hurricanes" (AKA Storm) from Cam's - this illustrious wine now takes a prominent name in our collection.

by Tim Gleason, Cam Ward, Jason Earnest

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Vinous - "The 2019 Cabernet Franc The King's Storm is rich, dense and explosive, with tons of varietal character. This is an especially lush expression of Napa Valley Franc. The interplay of richness and Franc nuance is compelling. Then again, this site on Mt. Veeder is magical."