All Wines


2019

Pamelita Reserve

Grown from the most compelling micro-terroirs within Nuns Canyon Vineyard, Pamelita is the apogee and ultimate expression of the site. The wine intricately captures the ethereal and profound character of the preeminent ridges and outcroppings of fractured basalt within the high-elevation terroir.

“The full-bodied palate offers intense flavor layers and a weightless feel, with ultra powdery tannins, seamless acidity and a hauntingly floral finish. Balanced and über classy, it’s a pleasure to drink now but will develop over the next 15+ years in the cellar.”
—Erin Brooks, March 9, 2023


“Aromatically, this would have great appeal for Napa wine lovers who are looking to extend their reach. Ripe and velvety in texture, with good freshness and impeccable balance, this is packed with a lot to love for drinking across many styles… and can be enjoyed over the next 20 years.”
—Audrey Frick, June 1, 2023

Winemaker in the vineyards, vineyards in silhouette against clear blue sky
stylized photo of black concrete egg in Hamel caves

Profile


A deep ruby as it swirls in the glass, the wine offers finessed, tightly coiled aromas of dark cherry and wild blackberry with roses, wet stone, sage, and iron. This is a wine of both scale and precision. The palate is multidimensional with layers of chiseled and weightless tannin that carry linear momentum towards an expansive finish that resonates with impressive mineral tension. This wine is a monument of Volcanic terroir and will continue to further develop over the next twenty years.

Extreme close up of vineyard rock seen through magnifying glass

Vintage Notes and Technical Details


The 2019 vintage began with steady precipitation throughout the winter months, with a record of eighteen inches of rainfall occurring in February. On top of the wet conditions, cooler weather in February and March caused a later start to the growing season in April. An additional four inches of rain in May created healthy and strong vigor and growth in the vines through the end of July. The wet conditions of the spring were followed by a dry summer culminating with a warm August, allowing for optimal ripening conditions following veraison. With the abundant winter and spring rainfall and our dedication to farming without irrigation, we were able to dry farm 75% of our vineyards in 2019. The warm and dry conditions allowed the grapes to fully ripen, and harvest began with Sauvignon Blanc on August 27th and continued gradually throughout the first half of September. A dry heat wave beginning on September 24th accelerated the harvest, which was completed by October 7th. The 2019 wines will be defined by purity of fruit and bright freshness.

  • Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Production: 276 Cases
  • Appellation: Sonoma Valley
  • Vineyard: 100% Nuns Canyon Vineyard
  • Fermentation: 100% Stainless Steel Tanks
  • Aging: 21 Months, 33% New French Oak Casks and Barrels, 67% Neutral French Oak Barrels
  • Bottling Date: July 17, 2021
  • Harvest Dates: September 30 – October 4, 2019
  • Alcohol: 14.3%
landscape photo of Hamel vineyards under a blue, sunny sky
Drone photo of Hamel vineyards with foggy coast in background

Explore Our Vineyards


To capture the complexity of our vineyards’ volcanic terroir, we embrace a level of precision, scale and knowledge that reflects the geologic contours of our place.