Wines

Superlatives do not do this 2019 vintage justice, and we believe it will go down in history as one of Napa Valley’s finest. Ample winter precipitation nurtured healthy spring soils, and foggy mornings and moderate temperatures allowed the clusters to mature at a measured pace. In the words of our winemaker, Julien Fayard: “The longer, cooler growing season produced expressive and powerful wines – true vins de garde with the structure and intensity to age beautifully for many years.” These dynamic wines offer vibrant fruit with sensational texture and density that will only deepen with time.

History will remember the 2018 growing season as one of Napa Valley’s most balanced vintages. A wet winter gave way to a mild spring and extraordinary fruit set. While one early heat wave gave the grapes a powerful start, the lack of subsequent major heat events allowed for even natural ripening of the generous crop and an uneventful harvest at optimal conditions. The wines are marked by their elegance, power and abundance. Already soft and textured, they will offer depth and grace for years to come.

Napa Valley’s 2017 vintage was a memorable one. Abundant winter rains enabled healthy springtime growth, and a series of powerful heat waves accelerated ripening through the summer. As a result, most of our fruit was safely in the cellar before the Wine Country wildfires broke out in early October. We worked diligently to manage fermentations through evacuation orders and electricity outages, and ruthlessly weeded out any fruit that risked smoke damage. Covert’s 2017 wines exemplify the unwavering craftsmanship of our winemaking team.

The 2016 vintage will be remembered for its big, rich, black-fruited wines. A few summer heat waves helped the clusters achieve a luxurious ripeness without compromising the structure or ageability. This Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of two clones (191 and 337) that thrive on the rockiest part of our estate. We co-fermented the clones in tank, then aged the wine in 100% new French oak for 18 months before bottling.

The 2015 harvest was a season that followed three years of drought in California. With natural limited resources and a fairly cold spring, Covert's vines set less fruit leading to a very limited production. Though the vines produced fewer berries per cluster, those clusters were ideally shaped and well-ventilated for ensuring uniform ripening and exposure, which means the flavor is full and extremely concentrated. Following a warm summer, the warmest in the last decade, harvest began in late September. While small in volume, the resulting wine is a quintessential Napa Cabernet. Bright, lush red fruit full of concentration with elegant aromatics due to our cooler Coombsville climate.

The 2014 vintage was a short, early growing season distinguished by its lack of significant weather events—no hard frost, no major heat spikes, no problematic rain. The wines initially were a bit more restrained than 2013, but their unique aromatics and black fruit character are unfolding beautifully with time. This Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of two clones (191 and 337) that thrive on the rockiest part of our estate. We co-fermented the clones in tank, then aged the wine in 100% new French oak for 18 months before bottling.

The 2013 vintage gave us another exceptional growing season with a mild spring and moderate summer temperatures. The fruit and tannins ripened fully without losing aromatic nuance or freshness, producing wines with velvet textural elements and a mineral-driven acidity. This wine is a blend of two Cabernet Sauvignon clones (191 and 337) that thrive on the rockiest part of our estate. We co-fermented the clones in tank, and aged the wine in 100% new French oak for 20 months.

The 2012 vintage was one of the finest in the history of our estate. Ideal growing conditions all year gave us an abundant crop with sumptuous, evenly ripened fruit. This wine is a blend of two Cabernet Sauvignon clones (191 and 337) that thrive on the rockiest part of our estate. We co-fermented the clones in tank, then aged the wine in 100% new French oak for 18 months before bottling.

350 cases produced.

Superlatives do not do this 2019 vintage justice, and we believe it will go down in history as one of Napa Valley’s finest. Ample winter precipitation nurtured healthy spring soils, and foggy mornings and moderate temperatures allowed the clusters to mature at a measured pace. In the words of our winemaker, Julien Fayard: “The longer, cooler growing season produced expressive and powerful wines – true vins de garde with the structure and intensity to age beautifully for many years.” These dynamic wines offer vibrant fruit with sensational texture and density that will only deepen with time.

History will remember the 2018 growing season as one of Napa Valley’s most balanced vintages. A wet winter gave way to a mild spring and extraordinary fruit set. While one early heat wave gave the grapes a powerful start, the lack of subsequent major heat events allowed for even natural ripening of the generous crop and an uneventful harvest at optimal conditions. The wines are marked by their elegance, power and abundance. Already soft and textured, they will offer depth and grace for years to come.

The 2016 vintage will be remembered for its big, rich, black-fruited wines. A few summer heat waves helped the clusters achieve a luxurious ripeness without compromising the structure or ageability. The grapes for this wine came from a block of Clone 341 Cabernet located at the coldest and most gravelly part of our estate, which permits long, slow ripening. Clone 341 is exceptionally aromatic, and the cooler conditions in our vineyard block unlock its fullest expression. This wine was tank fermented and aged in 100% new French oak for 20 months.

The 2015 harvest was a season that followed three years of drought in California. With natural limited resources and a fairly cold spring, Covert's vines set less fruit leading to a very limited production. Though the vines produced fewer berries per cluster, those clusters were ideally shaped and well-ventilated for ensuring uniform ripening and exposure, which means the flavor is full and extremely concentrated. Following a warm summer, the warmest in the last decade, harvest began in late September. While small in volume, the resulting wine is a quintessential Napa Cabernet. Bright, lush red fruit full of concentration with elegant aromatics due to our cooler Coombsville climate.

The 2014 vintage was a short, early growing season distinguished by its lack of significant weather events—no hard frost, no major heat spikes, no problematic rain. The grapes for this wine came from a block of Clone 341 Cabernet located at the coldest and most gravelly part of our estate. Clone 341 is exceptionally aromatic, full of herbal, floral notes, and the cooler conditions of our vineyard block bring out the purest expression of the grape—fragrant, refined, and graceful. This wine was tank fermented and aged in 100% new French oak for 20 months.

Finesse in Cabernet Sauvignon is achieved at the limits of ripening, as we see in Pauillac and Margaux. The grapes for this wine came from a block of Clone 341 Cabernet located at the coldest and most gravelly part of our estate. Clone 341 is exceptionally aromatic, full of herbal, floral notes, and the cooler conditions of our vineyard block bring out the purest expression of the grape--fragrant, refined, and graceful. This wine was tank fermented and aged in 100% new French oak for 20 months.

Superlatives do not do this 2019 vintage justice, and we believe it will go down in history as one of Napa Valley’s finest. Ample winter precipitation nurtured healthy spring soils, and foggy mornings and moderate temperatures allowed the clusters to mature at a measured pace. In the words of our winemaker, Julien Fayard: “The longer, cooler growing season produced expressive and powerful wines – true vins de garde with the structure and intensity to age beautifully for many years.” These dynamic wines offer vibrant fruit with sensational texture and density that will only deepen with time.

History will remember the 2018 growing season as one of Napa Valley’s most balanced vintages. A wet winter gave way to a mild spring and extraordinary fruit set. While one early heat wave gave the grapes a powerful start, the lack of subsequent major heat events allowed for even natural ripening of the generous crop and an uneventful harvest at optimal conditions. The wines are marked by their elegance, power and abundance. Already soft and textured, they will offer depth and grace for years to come.

The 2016 vintage will be remembered for its big, rich, black-fruited wines. A few summer heat waves helped the clusters achieve a luxurious ripeness without compromising the structure or ageability. As is typical, our Pritchard Hill vineyard site ripened earlier than other areas of Napa, and several weeks ahead of our Coombsville estate. This Cabernet Sauvignon was tank fermented, and aged in 100% new French oak for 26 months before bottling.

The 2015 harvest was a season that followed three years of drought in California. With natural limited resources and a fairly cold spring, Covert's vines set less fruit leading to a very limited production. Though the vines produced fewer berries per cluster, those clusters were ideally shaped and well-ventilated for ensuring uniform ripening and exposure, which means the flavor is full and extremely concentrated. Following a warm summer, the warmest in the last decade, harvest began in late September. While small in volume, the resulting wine is a quintessential Napa Cabernet. Bright, lush red fruit full of concentration with elegant aromatics due to our cooler Coombsville climate.

The 2014 vintage was a short, early growing season distinguished by its lack of significant weather events—no hard frost, no major heat spikes, no problematic rain. As is typical, our Pritchard Hill vineyard site ripened earlier than other areas of Napa, and several weeks ahead of our Coombsville estate. This vintage initially was a bit more restrained than 2013, but the wines’ distinctive aromatics and rich fruit are unfolding beautifully with time. This Cabernet Sauvignon was tank fermented, and aged in 100% new French oak for 26 months before bottling.

The Sage Hill Vineyard is a clay and rock-dominated site in the Pritchard Hill area of Napa Valley that enjoys full western exposure, and cooling air currents from nearby Lake Hennessy that moderate afternoon temperatures. This site typically ripens earlier than other areas of Napa, and in 2013 we harvested the third week in September—well ahead of our Coombsville estate and most other Cabernet vineyards. This wine was tank fermented, and aged in 100% new French oak for 26 months before bottling.

Superlatives do not do this 2019 vintage justice, and we believe it will go down in history as one of Napa Valley’s finest. Ample winter precipitation nurtured healthy spring soils, and foggy mornings and moderate temperatures allowed the clusters to mature at a measured pace. In the words of our winemaker, Julien Fayard: “The longer, cooler growing season produced expressive and powerful wines – true vins de garde with the structure and intensity to age beautifully for many years.” These dynamic wines offer vibrant fruit with sensational texture and density that will only deepen with time.

History will remember the 2018 growing season as one of Napa Valley’s most balanced vintages. A wet winter gave way to a mild spring and extraordinary fruit set. While one early heat wave gave the grapes a powerful start, the lack of subsequent major heat events allowed for even natural ripening of the generous crop and an uneventful harvest at optimal conditions. The wines are marked by their elegance, power and abundance. Already soft and textured, they will offer depth and grace for years to come.

Napa Valley’s 2017 vintage was a memorable one. Abundant winter rains enabled healthy springtime growth, and a series of powerful heat waves accelerated ripening through the summer. As a result, most of our fruit was safely in the cellar before the Wine Country wildfires broke out in early October. We worked diligently to manage fermentations through evacuation orders and electricity outages, and ruthlessly weeded out any fruit that risked smoke damage. Covert’s 2017 wines exemplify the unwavering craftsmanship of our winemaking team. This wine is a blend of clone 327 and the darker, more concentrated clone 214, co-fermented in tank and aged in 60% new French oak for 18 months.

The 2016 vintage will be remembered for its big, rich, black-fruited wines. A few summer heat waves helped the clusters achieve a luxurious ripeness without compromising the structure or ageability. The Cabernet Franc block of our estate has full eastern exposure to the morning sun, which allows for cooler afternoon temperatures that preserve a fresh acidity and aromatic finesse. This wine is a blend of clone 327 and the darker, more concentrated clone 214, fermented in tank and aged in 100% new French oak for 18 months.

The 2015 harvest was a season that followed three years of drought in California. With natural limited resources and a fairly cold spring, Covert's vines set less fruit leading to a very limited production. Though the vines produced fewer berries per cluster, those clusters were ideally shaped and well-ventilated for ensuring uniform ripening and exposure, which means the flavor is full and extremely concentrated. Following a warm summer, the warmest in the last decade, harvest began in late September. While small in volume, the resulting wine is a quintessential Napa Cabernet. Bright, lush red fruit full of concentration with elegant aromatics due to our cooler Coombsville climate.

The 2014 vintage was a short, early growing season distinguished by its lack of significant weather events—no hard frost, no major heat spikes, no problematic rain. The Cabernet Franc block of our estate has full eastern exposure to the morning sun, which allows for cooler afternoon temperatures that preserve a fresh acidity and aromatic finesse. This wine is a blend of clone 327 and the darker, more concentrated clone 214, fermented in tank and aged in 100% new French oak for 20 months.

The 2013 vintage produced exceptional aromatics and structure, making it an ideal year for Cabernet Franc. This block of our estate has full eastern exposure to the morning sun, which allows for cooler afternoon temperatures that preserve a fresh acidity and aromatic finesse. This wine is a blend of clone 327 and the darker, more concentrated clone 214, fermented in tank and aged in 100% new French oak for 20 months.

Superlatives do not do this 2019 vintage justice, and we believe it will go down in history as one of Napa Valley’s finest. Ample winter precipitation nurtured healthy spring soils, and foggy mornings and moderate temperatures allowed the clusters to mature at a measured pace. In the words of our winemaker, Julien Fayard: “The longer, cooler growing season produced expressive and powerful wines – true vins de garde with the structure and intensity to age beautifully for many years.” These dynamic wines offer vibrant fruit with sensational texture and density that will only deepen with time.

In a nod to French tradition in the Rhône, where Syrah originated, this wine is now bottled in the slope-shouldered Burgundy bottles for the first time.

Napa Valley’s 2017 vintage was a memorable one. Abundant winter rains enabled healthy springtime growth, and a series of powerful heat waves accelerated ripening through the summer. As a result, most of our fruit was safely in the cellar before the Wine Country wildfires broke out in early October. We worked diligently to manage fermentations through evacuation orders and electricity outages, and ruthlessly weeded out any fruit that risked smoke damage. Our estate-grown Syrah was planted in 2002, and assembles eight different clones for aromatic and textural complexity. We co-fermented the clones in tank, then aged the wine in 100% new French oak for 18 months before bottling.

The 2016 vintage will be remembered for its big, rich, black-fruited wines. A few summer heat waves helped the clusters achieve a luxurious ripeness without compromising the structure or ageability. Our estate-grown Syrah was planted in 2002, and assembles eight different clones for aromatic and textural complexity. We co-fermented the clones in tank, then aged the wine in 100% new French oak for 18 months before bottling.

Dynamic, textured and impeccably balanced, the 2019 vintage of the Covert Black Label Cabernet is an irresistible celebration of Coombsville, Napa Valley. The nose delivers classic blackcurrant, plum, earth and fresh thyme aromas with warming hints of cedar and allspice. Sweet black fruit, purple berries and mocha offer a round, satisfying core with shades of caramel, juniper, dried rose petals, and stone supporting. Silky tannins and fresh tangerine-scented acidity bring structure and fluid energy to the wine, while notes of blackberries, tea, and dark chocolate carry it through a luxuriously long finish.

History will remember the 2018 growing season as one of Napa Valley’s most balanced vintages. A wet winter gave way to a mild spring and extraordinary fruit set. While one early heat wave gave the grapes a powerful start, the lack of subsequent major heat events allowed for even, natural ripening of the generous crop and an uneventful harvest at optimal conditions. The wines are marked by their elegance, power and abundance. Already soft and textured, they will offer depth and grace for years to come.

471 Cases produced.

Napa Valley’s 2017 vintage was a memorable one. Abundant winter rains enabled healthy springtime growth, and a series of powerful heat waves accelerated ripening through the summer. As a result, most of our fruit was safely in the cellar before the Wine Country wildfires broke out in early October. We worked diligently to manage fermentations through evacuation orders and electricity outages, and ruthlessly weeded out any fruit that risked smoke damage. Covert’s 2017 wines exemplify the unwavering craftsmanship of our winemaking team.