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Vineyard: School House
| Appellation | Napa County |
| Story | Historic Pinot Noir vineyard on Spring Mountain. |
| Varieties | Pinot Noir |
Articles mentioning wines produced from this vineyard
Wineries sourcing from this vineyard
Reviewed wines produced from this vineyard
2008 School House Vineyard Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Pinot Noir
14.6% 275 cases, $80. Magnums available. This vintage yielded 3.5 tons
picked at about 25.5º Brix. Fermented in open top bins after a light pressing.
Matured 18 months in new French oak barrels and hand-bottled.
·
Moderately
light reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas dance in and out over time in the
glass, but the emphasis is on cherry fruit with hints of tea leaf and oak. Lighter
in weight than the 2006 vintage, yet impressively flavorful, featuring intense
cherry compote, baking spice and green leaf, with notes of raisin, herbs and
minerality. The wine sports a moderately firm tannic backbone and offers an
unbelievably long finish that lasts at least a minute. Very good.
Reviewed April 4, 2012
WINERY »
ARTICLE »
2006 School House Vineyard Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Pinot Noir
15.1% alc., 200 cases,
$80.
·
Moderately dark reddish-purple color with very slight yellowing of the rim in the glass. The bouquet of
secondary characters includes raisin, black olive, old cask and old boot leather. A delicious wine with many
layers of flavor including dried cherries, black raspberries, black currants, cola, sassafras and spice. Very ripe
in fruit character with grainy, supportive tannins and some length on the finish. Very good.
Reviewed April 4, 2012
WINERY »
ARTICLE »
2003 School House Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Pinot
Table wine, 9 barrels, $75. Label says, “From mountain grapes
grown on School House Vineyard, St. Helena, by John M. Gantner.
Cellared and bottled by Gantner and Walker, St. Helena.” Low yields
(just under a ton per acre). Fermented in open-top bins after destemming.
Aged 18 months in French oak and bottled by hand.
·
Deep
ruby in color. A dirty diaper fragrance blows off to reveal a rich perfume
of ripe cherries, Mocha java and forest floor. The concentrated flavors
follow in step with added notes of cranberry, roasted plums and game.
There is plenty of earthiness at heart. A touch of alcohol on the nose and finish is not intrusive. A highly
distinctive wine of great character and clearly unlike a “typical” California Pinot Noir.
Reviewed August 24, 2007
WINERY »
ARTICLE »
1993 School House Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Pinot Noir
Label says, “From mountain
grapes grown on School House Vineyard, St. Helena, by John M. Gantner. Cellared and bottled by
Scotland Craig Partners, St. Helena.”
·
Mahogany color with an orange rim. Impressive aromas of dark
chocolate-covered cherries with hints of toast. Tart cherry flavors with noticeable tannins lead to a finish
with brisk acidity. The wine is fading and the fruit is tired and thin on the backend, but it still has some
charm left.
Reviewed August 24, 2007
WINERY »
ARTICLE »
2008 School House Vineyard Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Pinot Noir
14.6% 275 cases, $80. Magnums available. This vintage yielded 3.5 tons picked at about 25.5º Brix. Fermented in open top bins after a light pressing. Matured 18 months in new French oak barrels and hand-bottled. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas dance in and out over time in the glass, but the emphasis is on cherry fruit with hints of tea leaf and oak. Lighter in weight than the 2006 vintage, yet impressively flavorful, featuring intense cherry compote, baking spice and green leaf, with notes of raisin, herbs and minerality. The wine sports a moderately firm tannic backbone and offers an unbelievably long finish that lasts at least a minute. Very good. Reviewed April 4, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »
2006 School House Vineyard Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Pinot Noir
15.1% alc., 200 cases, $80. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color with very slight yellowing of the rim in the glass. The bouquet of secondary characters includes raisin, black olive, old cask and old boot leather. A delicious wine with many layers of flavor including dried cherries, black raspberries, black currants, cola, sassafras and spice. Very ripe in fruit character with grainy, supportive tannins and some length on the finish. Very good. Reviewed April 4, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »
2003 School House Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Pinot
Table wine, 9 barrels, $75. Label says, “From mountain grapes grown on School House Vineyard, St. Helena, by John M. Gantner. Cellared and bottled by Gantner and Walker, St. Helena.” Low yields (just under a ton per acre). Fermented in open-top bins after destemming. Aged 18 months in French oak and bottled by hand. · Deep ruby in color. A dirty diaper fragrance blows off to reveal a rich perfume of ripe cherries, Mocha java and forest floor. The concentrated flavors follow in step with added notes of cranberry, roasted plums and game. There is plenty of earthiness at heart. A touch of alcohol on the nose and finish is not intrusive. A highly distinctive wine of great character and clearly unlike a “typical” California Pinot Noir. Reviewed August 24, 2007 WINERY » ARTICLE »
1993 School House Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Pinot Noir
Label says, “From mountain grapes grown on School House Vineyard, St. Helena, by John M. Gantner. Cellared and bottled by Scotland Craig Partners, St. Helena.” · Mahogany color with an orange rim. Impressive aromas of dark chocolate-covered cherries with hints of toast. Tart cherry flavors with noticeable tannins lead to a finish with brisk acidity. The wine is fading and the fruit is tired and thin on the backend, but it still has some charm left. Reviewed August 24, 2007 WINERY » ARTICLE »
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