In 1885, Dr. George Beldon Crane planted an assortment of grape vines on an eight-acre plot of land, just south of St. Helena. Today, it is one of the oldest vineyards in the Napa Valley, consisting of a field blend traditionally known as ‘mixed blacks’. Although records are scarce, the vines likely consist of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignan and to a lesser extent, Alicante Bouschet, Mourvedre and Valdiguie.

Of the six and a half acres currently in production, approximately four contain a mixture of G.B. Crane’s original head trained vines with newer plantings from the 1930s interspersed. The other four acres consist of a 1.26-acre block of Cabernet Sauvignon, a 0.86-acre block of Petite Sirah, and three rows of Merlot. With such a storied history and enormous potential, we purchased the vineyard in 2012 with one goal: to preserve this piece of California viticultural history and produce a wine that both represents and respects that heritage.

The 2022 G.B. Crane Vineyard el Coco opens with aromatics of violets, dark chocolate, and plum, followed by secondary aromas of blue stone fruits, fresh raspberries, and black tea. It exhibits a rich, plush mouthfeel that coats the palate in a succulent, mouthwatering fashion, with flavors of anise, black cherry, and ripe raspberry. The finish is marked by mineral and slate-like notes, along with a lingering, solid grip.