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Art of Napa Valley
From its perch overlooking St. Helena and the valley floor, Seven Stones Winery produces stunning wines on its tiny estate vineyard and showcases provocative art in its galleries and outdoor installations. Ron and Anita Wornick purchased their 45-acre property in 1995 from Bill Harlan, the owner of Harlan Estate. Initially, their intent was to establish a small personal vineyard to make wine for their family. They planted a single acre of Cabernet Sauvignon in 1996. It soon became clear that the volcanic soils and unique terroir were capable of producing world-class wine, and the Wornicks were encouraged by the likes of Robert Mondavi and Garen Staglin to expand their endeavors. The first commercial vintage of Seven Stones, a Cabernet Sauvignon, was released in 2005.
Seven Stones primarily focuses on Cabernet Sauvignon, with small quantities of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. These limited-production wines, typically yielding only 300-500 cases annually, are the product of a meticulous, hands-on approach guided by the renowned consultant and winemaker Aaron Pott. With winemaking and viticultural expertise developed at Ch. Troplong-Mondot and Chateau Figeac in Bordeaux as well as several top estates in the Napa Valley, Pott’s philosophy is rooted in the notion that healthy vines, farmed organically, are the key to wines of purity and elegance. (Pott also owns his own plot on Mt. Veeder that now encompasses the vineyard of an old Hotei favorite, Lagier-Meridith.) The grapes are sorted up to four times, including in the vineyard, ensuring only the highest quality berries proceed to fermentation. Aging takes place in new French oak barrels, with Cabernet often co-fermented with another variety to enhance balance and character. With a vision for their estate that goes beyond wine, the Wornicks created Seven Stones as a sanctuary for art and culture, most famously with the colossal seven-granite-stone sculpture by Richard Deutsch that inspired the winery's name. They also established an Artist-in-Residence program and plan to showcase archaeological artifacts found on the property, creating a unique destination where art, history, and viticulture intertwine.
Wine MakerAaron Pott
CountryUSA
RegionCalifornia
In 2022, Seven Stones produced “The Collection” for the first time to celebrate the winery’s commitment to wine and art, two products in which notions of place, time, and human creativity are essential. While the winery is not deviating from its practice of producing one, ultra-premium, flagship wine from its three-acre vineyard, they say this wine “marks the beginning of our journey, making each bottle of The Collection a unique collector's item that tells the story of the land we call home.” Like the Cabernet Sauvignon of earlier vintages, it consists of about 90% Cabernet, likely co-fermented with Cab Franc and a small amount of Malbec. It aged for 21 months in French oak. In 2022 a serious heatwave hit the Valley in late August that accelerated the ripening of the grapes. At Seven Stones the effect was mitigated via the high elevation of the vineyard and the shade that spreads in the late afternoons. Working with a small vineyard planted so close to the winery meant that fruit could be harvested and processed without delay as soon as it was ripe.
Aaron Pott likes to compare Cabernet Sauvignon to a donut. It offers amazing flavors and textures in the attack and on the finish (the ring of the donut), but lacks richness and depth in the midpalate, creating a hole. Hence, blending is essential. Adding Cabernet Franc, in particular, can lift the aromatic profile with floral notes and perfumed red fruit, add breadth and silkiness to the power and structure of Cabernet Sauvignon, and create a more rounded and integrated wine. In 2021, Cabernet Franc comprised 18% of the blend. The 2021 Seven Stones Cabernet Sauvignon offers a perfumed nose of violets and dark berries, leading to a concentrated yet elegantly structured palate with finely integrated tannins and a long, pure finish. This highly acclaimed vintage showcases exceptional balance, earning 99 points from James Suckliing and 98 points from Jeb Dunnuck. Drink now or see it evolve through 2044.