Mt Brave, Napa
Founded in 2007, Mt. Brave is a tribute to the pioneering spirit of those who settled the rugged terrain of Mount Veeder during the 1800s and pays homage to the native Wappos, "the brave ones,” who were the original inhabitants of this extraordinary place.
Mt. Brave produces staggeringly intense and complex wines from its high-altitude estate vineyard in the Mount Veeder AVA located in the Mayacamas Mountains. First planted to grapes in the 1860s, this wild and isolate winegrowing region features panoramic views and some of the lowest yields in all of the Napa Valley. Despite being the largest AVA in Napa Valley, Mount Veeder produces less than 2% of all its wines.
The Mt. Brave vineyard is famous for its rugged terrain and steep slopes, where extreme conditions require that all work in the vineyard be done by hand. Thin, gravelly loam soils with rocks large and small force the vines to develop deep roots. High above the fog, the vineyard sits at between 425 and 550 metres, where nutrient poor, thin soils barely hold water, resulting in tiny berries with intense flavor. While Mount Veeder is cooler because of its elevation, it’s the first to see the early morning sun. This extended sun exposure helps ripen the tannins.
Grapes/Blend
98% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vinification
Hand-harvested grapes during cool morning hours, at an average Brix of 26.5°. The wine fermented in stainless steel and then underwent native malolactic fermentation in barrels to round acidity and softly integrate the vanillin character of French oak.
Maturation
19 months in French oak (67% new)
Opens with dark, ripe raspberry and huckleberry with spicy undertones. The sturdy structure reveals that this is a true mountain wine.
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