2017 Proprietary Red with Michael Patland

In 2007, Henry and Olga purchased a vineyard property called Terra Del Cuore. A few of you may have been lucky enough to see it, but most have not. It was a sublime 40-acre property that featured three main buildings. Those buildings were complimented by rows of vines that sprawled across the property. All together, those vineyards made up less than three acres, but due to the retaining walls used in building the terraced vineyard, it may easily be one of the most expensive vineyards in Napa Valley.

Originally the vineyard was planted to three grape varieties: Syrah, Merlot and Sangiovese. The man who originally built the property had a taste for old world wine, having done much of his business in France and Italy. However, when Henry Patland tried the wine, he realized it was markedly different from the classic Napa Valley style that he had so come to love. 

With time the enemy at his back, Henry was forced to use the fruit from the property in his first vintage. So the 2007 Proprietary Red was comprised of Syrah, Merlot and Sangiovese.

When the Patland Winemaker, Jay Buoncristiani, was asked what to do with that vineyard, Jay said, "Graft everything to Malbec." 

So we did. Every year since, the Proprietary Red wine has been a blend of Malbec from the estate, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah from Stagecoach Vineyard.

Every year some detail of this changes, but this is the basic framework to which this wine must always adhere.

In the Ten Year Anniversary vintage, 2017, a little bit of Petite Verdot was added into the blend. A few new vineyards were used in the sourcing of fruit as well. The most important factor though--we would argue--stayed the same. Jay is still the winemaker, and as in years past, has brought his singularly incredible skill of wine blending to the table with this wine.

It is ripe, intense and concentrated. It is balanced and structured. It strikes the perfect balance of a wine that can impress now, and one that will reward patient aging. 

If you've had our wines before, then simply take our word for it--this is some of the best juice we've ever put out. If you have NOT tried our wines before, then we heavily suggest you allow this wine to be your first forray. 

SHOP PROPRIETARY RED

2017 Malbec with Jay Buoncristiani

If you were to ask us what our flagship wine is, our official answer would be Cabernet Sauvignon. Those in the know, however, might think Malbec...

When we began producing wine in 2007, we were laser focused on Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. We were lucky enough to be getting phenomenal fruit from the highly acclaimed Stagecoach Vineyard. And yet, we also had our own little vineyard. Sitting high atop the mountains, adorning our family's estate, was the Terra Del Cuore vineyard. When we asked our winemaker what we should plant there, he said Malbec...?

Yes, Malbec. Jay spoke about it almost like it would be his secret weapon. Ten vintages later, it's safe to say it was!

At first, he was only using it as a blending component in our Cabernet Sauvignon and Proprietary Red Wine. One day, he asked the family to come together to taste a few blends he'd been working on. He explained to us what the first couple were, but refused to explain the third blend. We tried it and immediately fell in love. Nearly begging to know what it was, Jay finally had pity on us and told us it was 100% Malbec from our estate.

Until then, we had not encountered that caliber of Malbec in the Napa Valley. After tasting the wine though, it was clear to us that we needed to start producing a Malbec.

Now and then a little something would sneak into the blend, maybe a little Cabernet Sauvignon or a little Stagecoach Malbec. However, the 2017 vintage is uniquely its own beast because it is almost entirely Stagecoach fruit! This bold, structured wine is the perfect symbol of what great mountain fruit can become in the Napa Valley. 

SHOP MALBEC

2017 Syrah with Natalie Kelly

Those of you who have been with Patland Estate Vineyards since the beginning may recall that when we began in 2007, we were producing three wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and a Proprietary Red Blend. 

When we began, we had no idea what sort of journey lied ahead of us. The years have been filled with great triumphs and great trajedies, and amidst it all, we have to take a moment to appreciate this milestone. Ten years in the Napa Valley, and ten years making this wine!

If you're wondering what to expect from this wine, a cozy night by the fire sums it up. Yes! It's strange to describe a wine as cozy, but this one really does have all those warm winter spice aromas that you can't help but associate with cozy winter nights. 

It smells of gingerbread and nutmeg, allspice and fresh cracked black pepper, and even Chinese five spice. Below that, aromas of stewed blackberry and freshly picked black currants.

On the palate this all melds together to be an ultra-ripe, fruit forward wine accented with flavors of brown sugar and molasses. All these smells and tastes swirl together to take you back to the coziest parts of the winter holidays!

If you're among the lucky few that have a bottle or two of our innaugural vintage tucked away, we highly suggest trying the two wines side-by-side. What better way to see the evolution of a wine than to compare it against it's ten years younger brother? Enjoy!

SHOP SYRAH

Our Recipe for a Perfect Evening!

Whether you've been together for decades or just a couple years, a romantic night away is an absolute must once in a while.

Now we hope you're not waiting all year for Valentine's Day to roll around, but since February is the month of love, we thought we'd put together a little guide for what we consider a pretty perfect evening. The soft glow of flickering candlelight, the rich taste of decadent chocolate, and the washing away of inhibitions by delicious wine! 

Sounds good, right? Well here's what you need.

One Patland Candle

For years, we've had empty Patland bottles piling up at the winery. Finally, we partnered with a local candlemaker to start turning those fallen soldiers into stunning centerpieces! Coming in a variety of aromas--and wine bottles--these are the perfect way to set the mood. 

Set them on the dinner table, on the mantle, or even by the tub. Let that soft light wind you down.

PATLAND CANDLE

A Box of Chocolate Truffles

Now this is a classic pairing we're sure you've tried. Rich decadent chocolate with bold Napa Valley wine--what could be better? Well, what if that chocolate was actually made *with* wine? Yes, that's a thing. We actually partnered with a local confectionary to make these gorgeous chocolate truffles with our very own Proprietary Red Wine. That means you can find the nuanced flavor of your favorite Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Malbec all in these little bites of joy. 

PATLAND CHOCOLATES

Several Glasses of Liquid Gold

There are plenty of ways to pair food and wine, but when it comes to chocolate at the end of a long day, we like to go sweet with sweet. That's why we always suggest a few glasses of Patland Port to go with those chocolate truffles. 

The funny thing is, when Henry and Olga founded Patland Estate Vineyards, they had absolutely no intention of ever producing a dessert wine! Neither of them really had much of a sweet-tooth...

Several years after the winery got started though, the couple went on holiday to Portugal, where they were exposed to all sorts of delcious Port wines! One thing they learned was: Just because it's a dessert wine, doesn't mean it has to be cloyingly sweet. So many of the wines they tried were actually balanced and well-rounded. So upon their return to wine country, they charged Winemaker Jay Buoncristiani with the task of creating an equally balanced Port-style wine in Napa Valley.

The result was a wine of elegance and complexity. Made entirely from Petite Syrah fruit, this wine is full of flavors of baker's chocolate, blueberry pie, brandied cherries, orange marmalade and fig compote. It really is all those guilty pleasures wrapped into one wine. 

So if all this sounds as good to you as it does to us, then hop on over to our Wine Store and grab a Perfect Evening bundle. That's right, we put all these wonderful items together for you. You're just a few clicks away from the Perfect Evening. ❤️

PERFECT EVENING BUNDLE