Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards
Aonair Wines
Estate Conn Valley Cabernet Franc 2014
Not only does the winery have gorgeous views atop Conn Valley in Napa overlooking Lake Hennessy, the wines are delicious...but more importantly, the people are gracious and kind. Highly recommend visiting.
Though their other wines get more fanfare (mainly because there is more to go around), their CabFranc is always my favorite offering. At a whopping 2 barrels of production, getting access can be a bit tricky. For a cab franc, there is zero green pepper notes. Aromatically, it is a combo of rich, ripe red and black fruits all dipped in fondue chocolate, baking spices like cinnamon and clove with a woodsy note like sandalwood. While decadent in profile, there is plenty of acidity here to keep this from being too flabby. Notes of Christmas spice cake, red and black licorice, Black Forest cake shavings and a hint of herbs on the finish. Still quite youthful, this seems to just be entering a drink phase. — 5 years ago
Conn Creek
Atlas Peak Probst Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Balanced and very perfumed Cab. Notes of wood box, ripe black cherries and baking spices. Medium acidity and smooth tannins. — 6 years ago
Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards
Right Bank Napa Valley Red Blend 2001
The original year. Still delivering. Soft subtle tannins packed with Cab Franc tootsie roll goodness. — 7 years ago
Conn Creek
Volker Eisele Vineyard Chiles Valley District Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Nice dark color. Nice nose, dark fruit and maybe some bark? Some sort of spice-y note. Nice Cab from CA. — 7 years ago
Conn Creek
Napa Valley Chardonnay 2013
Muito bom! Adoramos. Equilibrado . No ponto. Sedoso. Seco e com conotação de damasco seco — 8 years ago
Conn Creek
Anthology Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
A beautiful wine from a producer that I’m quite fond of (more on that in a bit). This selection is 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. The fruit is sourced from six appellations: Oakville, Rutherford, Atlas Peak, Diamond Mountain, Stags Leap District, and Chiles Valley. Coming from a vintage with “typical” Napa Valley weather conditions, this bottle is the perfect iteration of Anthology for me to try for the first time. Plush, cool, sweet black & blue fruits - plums, blackberries, boysenberries - laced in Christmas spices, coffee grounds, vanilla, and star anise. On the palate a lovely, velvety texture that accentuates the sensuous plumpness that stands out on the nose. A lovely wine ✨
A quick word on Conn Creek as a producer.
Many years ago when I first “getting into” wine I had a friend who introduced me to Conn Creek (both their Cab and their red blend). After that first exposure to their wine my wife & I began keeping their wines on hand at all times, as they were ideal selections to have around the home for all kinds of occasions. Alas, this is my first Anthology and what a delicious selection it is. — 5 years ago
Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards
Estate Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Her nice rounded full palate cab. Drank well — 6 years ago
Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards
35 Years Anniversary Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
2016 - Complex bouquet; dark fruits, cassis; medium body with long, slight white pepper finish; great pairing with braised beef shanks; a winner and great value! — 6 years ago
Conn Creek
Anthology Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2013
coffee, chocolate, dark fruit. Well balanced, lots of development. — 7 years ago
Conn Creek
Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon
Great earthy napa cab. The Rutherford Dust comes through beautifully — 9 years ago
Conn Creek
Carneros Chardonnay 2017
This new vintage is actually from Sonoma County instead of Carneros. Really fresh and lean for Chardonnay. Ripe tropical fruits, Asian pear, white peach when I first smelled. Not too much malolactic going on so it’s very smooth and crisp on mid palate with a light touch of acidity afterwards. Seems like neutral or less new oak barrels were used as the vanilla and oaky flavors were subtle. This is perfect for summer fares or just paired well with Shrimps Scampi. — 6 years ago
Seavey Vineyard
Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
The nose reveals; dark currants, blackberries, heavy black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries and some blueberries. Black tea, expresso roast, anise, crushed dry rocks, big vanilla, clove, a little nutmeg, dry underbrush, sweet tarry notes, leather, woody notes with dark fresh & withering flower bouquet.
The body is big and lush. The tannins are big, meaty and tarry. Very dark currants. Blackberries, heavy black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries and some blueberries & strawberries as they open up. Black tea, expresso roast, steeped fruit tea, anise, crushed dry rocks, dry clay, big graphite, big vanilla, dark spice, clove, light dry herbs, a little nutmeg, dry underbrush, sweet tarry notes, leather, cedar with violets dark fresh & withering flower bouquet. The acidity is round, fresh and beautiful. The big, long, well balanced finish is excellent and look forward to having this in 15-20 years. This one will be a stunner!
Photos of, the barn where they make wine and hosts tastings, our private tasting area inside William’s old office. William desk and their outside terrace area.
Producer history & notes...Seavey Vineyard is located along Conn Valley Road in the eastern hills of Napa Valley, about 15 minutes from the valley floor.
This historical property was originally a cattle ranch. However, records indicate grapes were planted on some of the hillsides as early as the 1870’s. The stone dairy barn, still in existence, was built in 1881.
William & Mary Seavey purchased this property in 1979. The estate was originally founded by the Franco-Swiss Farming Company in 1881 which, closed down when Phylloxera destroyed their grape vines and the Volstead Act (Prohibition) went into effect. At the time of their purchase, they were a horse and cattle ranch. They quickly planted the slopes with grapes and initially sold their fruit to Raymond Vineyards. They have never purchased grapes, all their wine is made from estate grapes. Their vineyards are separated into 20 plus individual blocks.
Today, the property is about 200 total acres of which, 40 acres are planted to vine. Their hillside vineyards produce low yields of rich concentrated fruit. A small block of Chardonnay grows in a cooler lower part of their property. Besides grapes, they also raise cattle which are used to graze the hillsides. They feed the vineyard with the cattle cuttings. In 2003, they were one of the first Napa wineries to install solar.
Mary passed away in 2008 and William died in 2016. There daughter Dorie returned to the family business and now oversees the winery operations. Her brother Arthur also handles national and some small international sales, primarily to restaurants. However, most of their wine is sold direct to consumers.
Seavey’s first commercial vintage was released in 1990 a year after they renovated the stone dairy barn into a working winery. Today this stone building is the centerpiece of the property and is where tastings are hosted.
Since 2011, Jim Duane has been their day to day Winemaker. He’s worked at Robert Mondavi and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. It should also be noted that Philippe Melka Winemaker/Consultant has been with Seavey since 1995...one of Philippe’s two initial wine making jobs in the Napa Valley were with Seavey and Lail Vineyards.
Seavy makes about 3,200 cases annually depending on what mother nature brings. They make around two hundred cases of Chardonnay, slightly more Merlot and the rest is of the production is comprised of their Caravina and Estate Cabernets.
— 7 years ago
Yen Boubel
Dried flowers, cocoa, anise & black tea. A mediocre Petit Verdot but the palate was balanced & softer than I expected. — 5 years ago