The Cornerstone Collection
Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc: From a single vineyard, old-vine, old-clone block in St. Helena. This is a rich, creamy Sauvignon Blanc, but that richness is a gift from the vineyard alone as no new oak is used to age the wines. A substantial wine, it calls for crab and lobster more than oysters.
Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: This is a “winemakers” wine as it is crafted by blending distinctive wines from each of the vineyards we harvest. Our goal is always the same: to produce a classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that shows the best characteristics of each AVA that goes into the blend. A velvety, voluptuous wine that can be enjoyed upon release, but that will develop beautifully with age.
Cornerstone Cellars Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon: Our only single AVA Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain is where Cornerstone was born and we love to let its distinctive personality stand on its own. For the last several vintages this was a single vineyard, but from 2010 on it is selected from two sites high on Howell Mountain, one from the white “tufa” soils and the other on the rust red clay soils. The blend of these two vineyards adds even more depth and complexity. This is a true “mountain cab” that is tight and powerful and will age for many years.
Cornerstone Cellars “The Cornerstone”: With the 2009 vintage we are introducing a new wine that will truly be the Cornerstone of our wines. A blend in the Bordeaux tradition, the wines and varieties selected will be defined by the vintage, not a varietal designation. Utilizing our outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot vineyards the percentages of each variety in the final blend will change year-to-year. Total production will range from 100 to 200 cases.
The Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Collection
Napa Valley Riesling: A dry, racy Riesling from a cool Carneros vineyard that will remind you more of Alsace than the Rheingau. It’s firm, dry style matches perfectly with Petrale Sole, Sand Dabs, crab and lobster.
Napa Valley Corallina Syrah Rosé: A true rosé not a saigneé, which allows us to harvest this vineyard particularly for rosé so we can pick the fruit earlier than you would for a red wine. Not a frivolous rosé, Corallina is perfect for serious hot weather culinary adventures.
Napa Valley Syrah: From another cool vineyard site in Carneros, this Syrah is rich without being heavy. The classic black pepper characteristics of Syrah show beautifully in this wine. While it will age well, its hedonistic charms seem to demand enjoying as soon as possible.
Napa Valley Cabernet Franc: Uplifted and brightly aromatic, our Cabernet Franc is blended from two distinctively different sites, one in St. Helena the other in Carneros. Refined and elegant, our Cabernet Franc has just the right touch of those wild herb characteristics that make Cabernet Franc so enticing.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: You can’t miss the family resemblance of this Cabernet Sauvignon to our Cornerstone Cabernets. Indeed, wines from some of the same vineyards also make it to our Stepping Stone cuveé. Yet the substantial inclusion of Cabernet from cooler southern Napa vineyards makes this wine more supple and forward than our reserve wines.
The Cornerstone Oregon Collection
Willamette Valley Chardonnay: The classic style of Premier Cru Chablis inspired us to make Chardonnay in Oregon where the cool climate naturally makes a crisp, steely style of Chardonnay. Aged only in mature, neutral barrels so that new oak flavors don’t hide the firm, racy flavors.
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir: A blend of vineyards in two AVA’s, Eola Hills and Yamhill Carlton, our goal is to make an elegant, but firmly structured Pinot Noir that will age into a wine of great complexity. Our first release, the 2008, received 92 points from Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate so we know we’re on the right track.