Rutherford's Dana Estates Releases First Cabernet from Winemaker Philippe Melka
Small lots. Big Napa Cabs. Very limited release.
(Rutherford, Calif.) January 27, 2009 – Dana Estates sits on 30 acres of choice Rutherford land. Rutherford’s reputation for yielding some of the world’s finest cabernet sauvignon dates back to Napa’s earliest wineries. Hi Sang Lee, a Korean businessman with strong ties to the Napa Valley, purchased the estate from the Livingston family in 2005 and immediately set his sights on producing wines worthy of the prized land.
Grape guru Philippe Melka oversees winemaking for Dana Estates trio of collector cabernets. With only 440 cases, the 2005 “Helms Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon ($275/bottle) will be the winery’s first release in winter 2009. Fall 2009 will bring the full three-vineyard line-up, featuring 2006 cabernets from the Lotus, Hershey and Helms vineyards.
With a total annual production of fewer than 1,000 cases, these wines will be as hard to come by as access to the estate itself. Renowned architect Howard Backen has transformed the original stone ruins built in the 1880’s into Napa’s newest destination on the cult-wine tour.
The wines have already received accolades from one of the world’s pre-eminent critics, Robert Parker, garnering 94 points for the 2005 “Helms Vineyard” Cabernet, with steadily increasing scores in the mid-90’s for all wines, including a 94-97 point estimated score for the barrel sample of 2007 “Lotus Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Estate
Those privileged enough to visit the exclusive grounds of Dana Estates will find themselves in a chic but rustic place where the past melds seamlessly into the present. Award-winning wine country architect Howard Backen redesigned the property, creating a state-of-the-art winery that rises amid the ruins of the original estate.
Entering the main courtyard, visitors will stroll past soaring stone walls detailed with 19th-century iron insignias, which were found in the vineyards when the property was purchased in 2005. Pistachio trees shade the entrance to the winery, which opens into a dramatic copper rotunda that acts as a link between the old and the new. More than 19,000 square feet of wine caves branch off of the rotunda, serving as a haven for blending, tasting and storage. Beautiful barn-like structures, comprised of heavy timber, concrete and stone, stand throughout the estate, providing tranquil quarters for private dinners and exclusive tastings.
The expansive Tasting Room makes an ideal gathering place for friends of Dana, with an elongated 16-foot walnut table set against the glow of an oversized wood burning fireplace. Lining the copper rotunda are hundreds of bottles of the most sought after wines in the Valley from Lee’s personal collection. Access to the winery is by appointment only, due to the extremely limited quantity of wines.
The Winemaking
At Dana Estates, no corner has been cut in the winemaking process. Philippe Melka, the “Michelangelo” of modern winemaking, directs an expert team, combining innovative technology with a finely tuned attention to his craft.
Grapes are hand picked and transported in small bins to the winery. Melka’s team meticulously sorts the grapes by hand, ensuring that only superior fruit goes into the wine. Gravity flow then moves the grapes gently to fermentation tanks.
The focus is on small-lot fermentation and block-specific winemaking techniques. Take, for instance, the fermentation tanks. At just 35 to 45 hectoliters, they are ideal for maintaining the individual character of small-lot wines. A cutting-edge fermentation system limits stress on the delicate wines.
The wines are then aged for a minimum of a year and a half in the finest French oak barrels in the winery’s expansive temperature-controlled network of caves.
The Vineyards
But it all starts with the dirt.
Located at the base of the Mayacamas mountain range in the Rutherford appellation, the six-acre Helms Vineyard’s gravelly loam soils are ideal for natural drainage and protection from the hot, afternoon sun. The remaining 24 acres of the estate property are dedicated to the new winery, extensive caves, lushly landscaped gardens and several private residences.
The 80-acre Hershey Vineyard sits atop Howell Mountain on one of the last pieces of undeveloped mountain vineyard roperty in the Napa Valley. Comprised of varied slopes and elevations rising as high as 1,800 feet, the 35 planted acres benefit from multiple sun exposures and rocky soils. While only 11 acres currently bear mature fruit, the vineyard is in the process of significant redevelopment: 24 acres have recently been planted to cabernet and other Bordeaux varieties to provide Dana Estates with a long term source of consistent mountain fruit.
Last but not least, the 71-acre Lotus Vineyard lies in the shadow of Howell Mountain in the eastern hills of St. Helena at an elevation of 1,200 feet. Due to the ruggedness of the terrain, only five acres of the steep, rocky vineyard are utilized for Dana Estates and yield wines as dramatic as the views from the property itself.
The Team
Hi Sang Lee has had more than 11 years of success working in the luxury goods market, largely through his importing business, Nara Foods, which is the most significant importer of Napa’s finest wines, including Harlan, Colgin and Shafer, to Korea. He also founded Podo Plaza, a contemporary seven-story food and wine education center in Seoul, as well as a company which is the exclusive importer and distributor of Maseratis and Ferraris in South Korea.
To make the best wine, Lee knew he needed the best team. Drawing on his contacts in Napa, he assembled a group of industry experts, bringing on Philippe Melka to oversee all winemaking and Pete Richmond, one of Napa Valley’s most well-regarded viticulturalists, to farm the vineyards.
Melka and Richmond work in conjunction with Director of Production Cameron Vawter, together crafting Dana Estates three distinctive wines.
About Dana Estates
Dana Estates was founded in 2005 when Korean businessman Hi Sang Lee purchased the historic Rutherford property from the Livingston family with the intention of producing the best Cabernet Sauvignon possible. The result is an all-star winemaking and viticultural team, including respected wine industry players Philippe Melka and Pete Richmond. Three unique vineyards yield three distinct wines, which are made in limited quantities and with a meticulous attention to detail. The inaugural wine release of the 2005 “Helms Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon will be released in early winter 2009, with the 2006 cabernets from the Hershey, Lotus and Helms vineyards to follow in fall of 2009. Access to the winery is by appointment only, due to the extremely limited quantity of wines. For further information or to inquire about joining the mailing list, please visit www.danaestates.com.
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