As an avid collector of fine wines and rare vintages for over twenty years, Bob Hartwell eventually came to the realization that it was time to satisfy his dream of owning his own vineyard. In 1985, he purchased from Harry Sees the now Hartwell Vineyard estate. The estate consisted of undeveloped mountain hillsides and valleys filled with oak trees where long-haired Scottish Highland cattle now roam keeping the wild grasses trimmed short. Nestled at the top of this estate is the main residence with one-acre vineyard in the adjacent meadow. This vineyard was planted with the Bosche Clone budded from Grace Family Vineyards, yielding its first harvest in 1990.  With the fabulous reviews and customer acceptance of the first one acre harvest of Hartwell Cabernet Sauvignon in 1990, the vineyard was expanded by planting a few acres of various Cabernet Sauvignon clones. The acreage was designated "Sunshine" and the first Sunshine Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested in 1993.  In celebration of the completion of a new winery, a decision was made to add a new variety to the Hartwell Estate collection. The first Merlot, from the 1999 harvest, came from a special corner of our vineyard. This wine was produced from exceptional fruit borne on seven year old vines.

"Hartwell's Cabernet Sauvignon is produced in very limited quantities (175 cases in 1993, 225 cases in 1994, and nothing in 1995 because the vineyard was replanted due to the phylloxera epidemic). This estate's Cabernets have become somewhat of a cult wine, largely because the vineyard is planted with the same clones of Cabernet that are on the Grace Family Vineyard. Moreover, the wine is made by one of Napa Valley's most fashionable consultants, Heidi Barrett." Robert Parker

www.hartwellvineyards.com

Cabernet Sauvignon Sunshine
1993 $469.99-1.5L        very limited
"The 1993 exhibits an elegant, more laid back style than several previous vintages. The deep ruby/purple color is followed by copious amounts of toasty, smoky new oak, and attractive currant aromas. The wine possesses sweet, ripe fruit, medium body, moderate tannin, and a long, nicely-textured, spicy finish. It may develop into an outstanding wine with another 2-4 years of cellaring. It should age well for 15+ years." Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #108
1994        $169.99        very limited
"The 1994 reveals that vintage's sweeter fruit, and harmonious personality. It has a dark ruby/purple color, followed by plenty of blackberry and blackcurrant-like fruit in the nose, complemented by some subtle toasty oak. The wine displays a richer, riper personality than the 1993, medium to full body, more layers of fruit, and finer integration of wood, tannin, and acidity. It is an impressively-endowed, outstanding, well-balanced Cabernet that admirably reflects its Stag's Leap origin. Anticipated maturity: 1999-2017." 90 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #108
“More elegant and less concentrated than this winery's Grace Vineyard bottling, it is nonetheless richly flavored, with pretty plum, wild berry and cherry flavors and soft tannins. Approachable now. 433 cases made.” The Wine Spectator 11/30/97

Cabernet Sauvignon Grace
1997          $174.99        very limited

Cabernet Sauvignon Stag's Leap District Estate
2001 $99.99
"Medium-dark ruby color; attractive, intense, complex, cassis and black cherry fruit aroma with notes of green olive and vanilla; medium-full to full body; rich, intense, creamy ripe black cherry and spicy red currant flavors with excellent depth and concentration; well balanced and structured for bottle aging; medium-full tannin; lingering aftertaste. This distinctive Cabernet is very approachable now, though deserving of another five more years of aging." 94 California Grapevine, Vol. 30, No. 3.
"Smooth, rich and creamy, this is a plush and inviting wine with generous black cherry and blackberry fruit that's ripe and layered, offering depth and concentration and finishing with a warm chocolate aftertaste. Drink now through 2012. 760 cases made." 93 The Wine Spectator 8/31/04
"Rich, creamy and lush on the palate, with loads of cassis that just roll on and on through the velvety finish. But it is no simple fruit bomb - it also delivers plenty of dried herb and tobacco complexity wrapped in toast and vanilla. Drink now." 93 The Wine Enthusiast 10/04
2000        $89.99
"Aromas of cassis, dark chocolate, tobacco, mocha and menthol. Nicely concentrated and sweet, with varietally accurate flavors of cherry, licorice, graphite and tobacco leaf. Plush and creamy yet holds its shape nicely. Finishes with building but essentially soft tannins. This rather elegantly styled cabernet grew sweeter with time in the recorked bottle. A lovely expression of Stags Leap cabernet."  90 Steve Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 5/6/02
"Gorgeous, beautiful wine, so strongly delicious on its own that it will be a challenge to pair it with food. A myriad of flavors cascades over the palate: cassis, blackcurrants, black cherries, white chocolate, spiced plums and dried herbs. So rich and decadently ripe, it’s almost a dessert wine. The tannins are completely soft and melted." 93 The Wine Enthusiast 11/15/03
"Inky Black hue. heady aromas of blueberry, mint, cherry and black licorice. Supple Texture, perfectly integrated polished tannins and lovely, mouth filling Cabernet fruit defined by cherry, plum and mint. Lasting jammy impressions coat the palate." 95 The Wine News 8/9/03
1998      $529.99-1.5L        available
"There’s some pretty blackberry fruit and spice here, while plenty of fancy oak provides woody spices and sweet vanillins as well as a smoky quality. The texture is smooth and polished. The fruit isn’t very dense or concentrated, but this elegant, soft wine drinks well now and will improve in the next year or two." 90 The Wine Enthusiast 6/1/02
“A solid effort, with layers of ripe, rich, grapey currant and plum-laced fruit flavors. Toasty oak adds dimension, and the flavor turns complex and spicy, with supple tannins. Tempting now, but worthy of short-term cellaring. 1,100 cases made.” The Wine Spectator 6/30/01

Merlot Stag's Leap District Estate
2002 $59.99
1999        $65.99        very limited
“Wonderful flavors, depth and balance, a seamless effort that combines ripe, rich, spicy currant, mineral, light cedary oak and pretty anise-herbal shadings. Holds its focus and shows complexity and finesse. 400 cases made.” 90 The Wine Spectator 9/30/01

2001Miste Valley - $39.99
Appellation: Stags Leap District
Varietal: 90% Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Estate Merlot, 1% Estate Petit Verdot
Cases Produced: 1400 cases - 750ml, 20 cases - 1.5 liter
Release Date: April 2004

Harvest Conditions
The 2001 harvest was preceded by a relatively dry winter followed by a by several periods of intense heat in late July and again in mid-August. September and October cooled dramatically, allowing a slow and steady harvest pace. The longer, slower ripening period allowed the fruit to mature steadily and uniformly, allowing us to let the grapes "hang on the vine" and develop even more complex flavors.

Winemaking Notes
Our proprietary "Miste valley" blend clearly showcases the depth of the 2001 vintage, which was marked by a long, nearly ideal growing season. The wine shows great depth of color, richness and subtlety of flavor. In the glass, aromas of super-ripe rasberry, plum and orange liquer emerge. On the palate, the wine shows great balance, delicacy, and nuance of flavor. The ripe fruit character is enhanced by notes of baking spices and exotic woods. The texture is round and polished, and all of these great notes linger on the finish. We aged our Miste Valley for approximately 20 months in new French and American Oak. Although this wine is very accessible now it should cellar beautifully for 8-12 years. Ratings, Reviews & Awards
Our 2001 Miste Valley has won the "Best of Class - Gold" in the 2004 West Coast Wine Competition.

The 2000 Mistique is from some of the lower slopes of Hartwell State vineyards located in the Stags Leap District.  Exquisite beauty and finesse are captured in this elegantly styled wine.  First the nose, then the taste of ripe sweet cherries with milk chocolate, and ripe flavors of plums and black raspberries, mingling with dark toasty oak. The wine was aged in 100% new French Oak for approximately 16 months.  A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot
from the Stag's Leap District.
2000        $38.99
"The supple and rich characteristics that have brought fame to the region are here captured in Hartwell's second-tier bottling, and there is plenty of ripe cherry fruit to fill in the open and inviting structure. A bit of finishing tannin asks for three to five years of cellaring to soften out fully, but even now, it is no barrier to the wine's enjoyable nature." 90 Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine, 12/02