Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill 2017

In 1968 Albert Jack Brounstein smuggled a few vines of a mysterious Bordeaux First Growth Estate through Mexico and planted them in a small plot in the Diamond Creek Canyon in the Napa Valley.  Who would have thought that 53 years later, the wines of Diamond Creek would be poured alongside some of the greatest wines in the world?  Wines like Domaine Romaneé Conti, Château d’Yquem, and – perhaps the same Bordeaux First Growth estates whose vines gave birth to this incredible, groundbreaking Napa Valley producer.  Diamond Creek is one of the first terroir-driven single vineyard estates to have emerged from the Napa Valley.  It is a producer of great historical significance to the region that also epitomizes everything that is essential about the unique terroirs in this special place.  A true Cabernet-lover’s dream!

Albert "Al" Brounstein, and his wife, Adelle "Boots", were pioneers of the Napa valley.  Al was a colorful personality.  He was the type of individual who once he set his sights on accomplishing a task, followed through to the end with relentless determination.  Following a successful career in pharmaceutical sales, Al fell in love with winemaking after taking a wine class at UCLA.  He spent his weekends working at Ridge Vineyards prior to visiting Diamond Creek Canyon.  The second he set foot in this special Napa Valley AVA, he fell in love and said nine words.  “I love this spot, I’m going to buy it.” That was all it took.  After smuggling some vines from one of the First Growth Estates in Bordeaux, he got to work.  With a meticulous obsession, Al and his wife Adelle, who went by Boots, discovered that Diamond Creek had a series of individually distinctive microclimates.  This gave them both the idea to create individual, single vineyard wines that would highlight these special terroirs.  Though this is fairly commonplace now, back in the day it was revolutionary. When Al passed away in 2006, Boots continued and carried on the couple's vision for Diamond Creek.  After she died in 2019 at the age of 92, the Rouzard family of the world-renowned Maison Louis Roderer and close friends of the Brounsteins, took over operations at this estate.  They honor the legacy of the Brounsteins and continue oto tirelessly work in the vineyards and craft top notch wine.

The Volcanic Hill portion of Diamond Creek was planted in 1968 in light, fluffy and ashy soil and is one of the larger portions of the estate, coming in at about 8 acres.  The vineyard faces South, and plantings of Cabernet and a tiny portion of Petit Verdot thrive in the gray, ashy soil.  The soil was originally deposited by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Koncocti eight million years ago.  It is in one of the warmest portions of the estate and produces one of the most powerful and long-lived wines at Diamond Creek.  Elevation here is some of the highest in the property, coming in at 610 feet at its peak.  For those who love powerful and full-bodied expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon with tremendous ageing potential, look no further than the Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill vineyard.  The tannins are elegant and there’s a smoky richness to this wine, with expressive ripe berry characteristics.

"The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Hill is composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot. It was aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, it has pronounced notes of blackcurrant cordial, boysenberries, baked plums and kirsch with wafts of cloves, wild sage and woodsmoke. The full-bodied palate is a tad rustic in texture with a charry, acrid character on the finish, albeit with otherwise pleasant freshness and spiciness." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (9/30/2020), Rating: 91, Drink: 2020-2036