The Tempest was one of the first wines, and the first Proprietary Blend, we produced. At the time, it seemed almost uncanny that we were able to access three grape varietals at the same time from the same vineyard; it was blind luck or perhaps the proverbial “perfect storm.” The resulting wine reflected a fierce determination to brave the storm as well as a new desire to realize the possibilities of Merlot. The Tempest is still made with outstanding grapes, from vineyards such as Blair in Calistoga and cooler sites like Farella and Orchard. Predominantly Merlot with lesser amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon depending on vintage, The Tempest is a roiling cauldron of fresh red and blue fruit and silky tannins – a wine that shows what Merlot can be in the right hands, from the right vineyards.
The Tempest
The Tempest
What Merlot can be when the stars align
Appellation
Napa Valley
Vineyard/Blocks
Farella, Orchard, Blair
Dominant Varietal
Merlot
Sense of Place
Merlot coming from cooler-climate vineyards in Oak Knoll and Coombsville AVAs
Distinguishing Characteristics
Red fruit; silky tannins; more approachable in its youth
Production Volume
2,000 cases
First Vintage
2002
Photograph from Wabi Inspirations by Axel Vervoordt. Flammarion, 2010.
“The artist invites the spectator to take a journey within the realm of the canvas... Without taking the journey, the spectator has really missed the essential experience of the picture.” -- Mark Rothko . Photograph of Rothko's No. 14, 1960 In Rothko The Color Field Paintings, Chronicle Books, 2017.
A storm rendered using three distinct hues. Label for the 2013 – 2019 vintages of The Tempest by a San Francisco artist was created using acid-free paper dipped in various wines for varying lengths. The original piece is only a little larger than the label itself.
Benjamin Smith After George Romney, The Enchanted Island, Before the Cell of Prospero - Prospero and Miranda (Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act 1, Scene 1). John & Josiah Boydell, London, 1797.
