School House Vineyard "Châteauwoof-da-Pup" Rhone Blend 2018

This winery takes its name from the 1880's one-room school house that had graced the property until it was consumed by fire in the mid 1980's. A unique dry-farmed property, it is nestled amongst the cool, lushly forested slopes of Spring Mountain at approximately 1500 feet (460 metres). Purchased by the Gantner family just after the Depression in 1940, John Gantner, an octogenarian, and his partner Nancy Walker still do some of the vineyard work themselves with the help of their estate manager, Tim Mosher. It is truly a genuine labour of love, which can be felt in their wines. John has long been a huge fan of Rhône wines so it felt natural for him to produce a Châteauneuf-du-Pape styled blend, named as a pun after their dog, Roxy. The 2018 opens with lovely bramble fruit notes that lead to a plump and succulent core that is ample but not heavy. A wine of character, balance and a chiseled feel with natural freshness.

Robin says "School House Vineyard was an eye-opening discovery for me. Despite being firmly planted in Napa since the 1950s, few people outside of Napa seem to know about it. One may wonder why but I think it might have to do with the fact that there is not a lot of flash here…just a lot of authenticity and of course quality."