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The October 2023 Auction: Part 1
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1 / 2Lot 1416
Estimate: $900
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Collection name
Reviews
92WA
"The 2018 Red Wine The Diplomat is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon but contains a fair bit of Merlot, being, as Jayson Woodbridge calls it, ‘A 21st-century claret.’ It comes across as earthy, tobacco-scented and even a bit evolved, despite its youth. Redcurrants and dark chocolate round out the spectrum of aromas, while the palate is medium to full-bodied, streamlined in shape and not overly rich or generous but balanced and attractive for early drinking. Jayson Woodbridge from Hundred Acre has recently revived this Fortunate Son label that he started a few years ago. ‘Some of the fruit for this label comes from Hundred Acre vineyards,’ said Woodbridge. ‘Additionally, I’ve negotiated to farm and take per-acre fruit from selected family vineyards in Napa Valley.’ More recently, he and his wife, Helen, purchased the historic David Fulton ranch/winery and vineyard, located on Fulton Lane in St. Helena, partly to restore the winery and establish a dedicated winery for The Fortunate Son. The 2021 harvest was the first vintage to be produced at the new winery, while the 2018 wines reviewed here were made at Hundred Acre’s ‘The Ring’ winery. ‘We’re using the same methods and equipment at the new winery as at The Ring winery,’ Woodbridge confirmed. Fortunate Son is a Jayson Woodbridge/Hundred Acre offshoot, made using contracted fruit (but which in the past has also included some bits from Hundred Acre lots). Now run by Jayson's son, Cameron, the winery facility is in St. Helena, on the site of the historic David Fulton Winery (established 1860, the first in St. Helena). The 15 acres of vineyards there were replanted in 2021. Woodbridge is fiercely protective of his fruit sourcing, refusing to say, except in the most general terms, where the fruit originates for his Fortunate Sons bottlings. He'll approach family-owned vineyards and pay by the acre (wants low yields), bringing in Jim Barbour to do the farming, with the biggest caveat being that growers can't say to whom they're selling. Woodbridge says he'll pick in several passes, so it can be three or four times as expensive as if the vineyard had been picked all at once. The harvest is cluster sorted in the field, then by cluster again on the table, destemmed and sorted by hand, then through an optical sorter, then again by hand on the way to the puncheon for fermentation in barrel. ‘Not a single thing makes it through that shouldn't,’ Woodbridge says. ‘It's the least profitable line we have, but I drink it.’ These wines were tasted in February 2023 at Woodbridge's offices in St. Helena. My predecessor gave the 2018s stunning reviews back in December 2021. While my reviews are perhaps not quite as flattering, the wines are excellent, and I think including my reviews of the 2018s will provide context for the even better 2019s, which I've also reviewed here."
Region
Red
Country
Score
"The 2018 Red Wine The Diplomat is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon but contains a fair bit of Merlot, being, as Jayson Woodbridge calls it, ‘A 21st-century claret.’ It comes across as earthy, tobacco-scented and even a bit evolved, despite its youth. Redcurrants and dark chocolate round out the spectrum of aromas, while the palate is medium to full-bodied, streamlined in shape and not overly rich or generous but balanced and attractive for early drinking. Jayson Woodbridge from Hundred Acre has recently revived this Fortunate Son label that he started a few years ago. ‘Some of the fruit for this label comes from Hundred Acre vineyards,’ said Woodbridge. ‘Additionally, I’ve negotiated to farm and take per-acre fruit from selected family vineyards in Napa Valley.’ More recently, he and his wife, Helen, purchased the historic David Fulton ranch/winery and vineyard, located on Fulton Lane in St. Helena, partly to restore the winery and establish a dedicated winery for The Fortunate Son. The 2021 harvest was the first vintage to be produced at the new winery, while the 2018 wines reviewed here were made at Hundred Acre’s ‘The Ring’ winery. ‘We’re using the same methods and equipment at the new winery as at The Ring winery,’ Woodbridge confirmed. Fortunate Son is a Jayson Woodbridge/Hundred Acre offshoot, made using contracted fruit (but which in the past has also included some bits from Hundred Acre lots). Now run by Jayson's son, Cameron, the winery facility is in St. Helena, on the site of the historic David Fulton Winery (established 1860, the first in St. Helena). The 15 acres of vineyards there were replanted in 2021. Woodbridge is fiercely protective of his fruit sourcing, refusing to say, except in the most general terms, where the fruit originates for his Fortunate Sons bottlings. He'll approach family-owned vineyards and pay by the acre (wants low yields), bringing in Jim Barbour to do the farming, with the biggest caveat being that growers can't say to whom they're selling. Woodbridge says he'll pick in several passes, so it can be three or four times as expensive as if the vineyard had been picked all at once. The harvest is cluster sorted in the field, then by cluster again on the table, destemmed and sorted by hand, then through an optical sorter, then again by hand on the way to the puncheon for fermentation in barrel. ‘Not a single thing makes it through that shouldn't,’ Woodbridge says. ‘It's the least profitable line we have, but I drink it.’ These wines were tasted in February 2023 at Woodbridge's offices in St. Helena. My predecessor gave the 2018s stunning reviews back in December 2021. While my reviews are perhaps not quite as flattering, the wines are excellent, and I think including my reviews of the 2018s will provide context for the even better 2019s, which I've also reviewed here."
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The fourth-largest wine producer in the world, led by California. American fine wine is defined by ripe, expressive fruit and a spirit of innovation, with Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon among the most sought-after wines globally.
California's most prestigious wine region, celebrated worldwide for opulent, structured Cabernet Sauvignon. Diverse soils and mountain-to-valley-floor sites yield wines of remarkable ripeness, power and longevity.
California's flagship appellation for opulent, structured Cabernet Sauvignon of ripe fruit, plush tannins and cellar-worthy depth.
2018 in Napa Valley enjoyed a long, cool, even season and a late harvest with a generous crop; the Cabernets are balanced, structured and classically styled, with vibrant fruit, firm tannins and excellent aging potential.
The world's most planted premium red grape, yielding deeply colored, tannic and structured wines with cassis, cedar and graphite notes. Firm tannins and acidity make it exceptionally age-worthy, whether as a varietal or the backbone of a Bordeaux blend.
Produces plush, supple, fruit-forward reds with plum and chocolate notes. Softer and earlier-maturing than Cabernet, it adds flesh and roundness to blends and stars in Right Bank Bordeaux.