Arkenstone sits on a rocky and rugged slope high atop Howell Mountain, looking down into the Napa Valley. The vineyards change in elevation to the tune of 250 feet, and the soils are a mix of Tufa, iron rich red clay, and abundant rocky areas. Even though proprietors Ron and Susan Krausz planted their first vines on the property in 1998, it wasn't until several years later that their first "true" vintage was bottled.
With the help of the talented and famous winemaker Philippe Melka, Ron and Susan tasted many wines and blends from their property for many years. Each year, they listened to which techniques in the vineyard translated to better wine. Again, each year, they fine-tuned these practices until they were sure the vineyard was well-established, trained properly, and were producing world-class wines.
Enter Sam Kaplan; Arkenstone Vineyard Manager and Winemaker since their commercial release. Sam has, since day one at Arkenstone, farmed the vineyards organically. Sam is exceptionally knowledgeable, and not only uses Arkenstone's state-of-the-art winemaking facility to its fullest, but he also knows when to be "hands off", and let the vineyard's own characteristics shine; terroir, if you will.
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 93 POINTS - "One of the don't-miss projects on Howell Mountain is Arkenstone, a gem of a winery and 12-acre vineyard planted in the late 1990s. Owners Ron and Susan Krausz purchased the property in 1988, and their son Jake worked his first harvest in 2010. Winemaker Sam Kaplan came on board in 2006, in time to consult on the construction of the winery, and has been there ever since, with an estate vineyard team. "It's a nice, manageable amount of land to do in house," he said. Kaplan is also able to make a couple of other labels at the winery, which was purposely designed with capacity in excess of what was needed for the estate vineyard."
"A blend of several sites in Calistoga and Howell Mountain, Arkenstone's 2022 NVD Cabernet Sauvignon comes across as quite oaky but in a dark, earthy, camphor-like way, marrying that with plummy, ripe fruit. Full-bodied and ripe, it's already approachable, with lingering, soft tannins on the finish."
JEB DUNNUCK 92 POINTS - "The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon NVD from Arkenstone spent 22 months in 75% new French oak and offers a beautiful bouquet of ripe currants, cassis, tobacco leaf, flowers, and subtle spice. Medium to full-bodied, balanced, and elegant, with ripe tannins, it’s structured yet already approachable and thoroughly enjoyable."
With the help of the talented and famous winemaker Philippe Melka, Ron and Susan tasted many wines and blends from their property for many years. Each year, they listened to which techniques in the vineyard translated to better wine. Again, each year, they fine-tuned these practices until they were sure the vineyard was well-established, trained properly, and were producing world-class wines.
Enter Sam Kaplan; Arkenstone Vineyard Manager and Winemaker since their commercial release. Sam has, since day one at Arkenstone, farmed the vineyards organically. Sam is exceptionally knowledgeable, and not only uses Arkenstone's state-of-the-art winemaking facility to its fullest, but he also knows when to be "hands off", and let the vineyard's own characteristics shine; terroir, if you will.
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 93 POINTS - "One of the don't-miss projects on Howell Mountain is Arkenstone, a gem of a winery and 12-acre vineyard planted in the late 1990s. Owners Ron and Susan Krausz purchased the property in 1988, and their son Jake worked his first harvest in 2010. Winemaker Sam Kaplan came on board in 2006, in time to consult on the construction of the winery, and has been there ever since, with an estate vineyard team. "It's a nice, manageable amount of land to do in house," he said. Kaplan is also able to make a couple of other labels at the winery, which was purposely designed with capacity in excess of what was needed for the estate vineyard."
"A blend of several sites in Calistoga and Howell Mountain, Arkenstone's 2022 NVD Cabernet Sauvignon comes across as quite oaky but in a dark, earthy, camphor-like way, marrying that with plummy, ripe fruit. Full-bodied and ripe, it's already approachable, with lingering, soft tannins on the finish."
JEB DUNNUCK 92 POINTS - "The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon NVD from Arkenstone spent 22 months in 75% new French oak and offers a beautiful bouquet of ripe currants, cassis, tobacco leaf, flowers, and subtle spice. Medium to full-bodied, balanced, and elegant, with ripe tannins, it’s structured yet already approachable and thoroughly enjoyable."
