The Wine Advocate shares their thoughts on Spring Mountain District wines
Joe Czerwinski, the Napa Valley reviewer for The Wine Advocate, spent time in February tasting a number of Spring Mountain District wines.
Here’s an excerpt of his report:
“….As climate change becomes more pronounced….Napa Valley’s Spring Mountain District American Viticultural Area may be positioned to thrive. With largely east-facing and therefore cooler vineyards and the most rainfall of any of the Valley’s subregions, it can withstand the heat and drought that future climate change may well bring. And all that’s not to say the AVA hasn’t already produced some stunning wines. Historically, vineyards were planted on the slopes of Spring Mountain as early as the 1860s….One thing that is apparent when tasting Spring Mountain District wines is their generally cooler origins. Sugar accumulation—and hence, alcohol levels—tend to be slightly lower than seen in wines from the Valley floor or western-facing sites. In general, these are not wines with big, fleshy mid-palates and overripe flavors; they are more restrained, sometimes even a bit herbal, with streamlined, often more linear shapes on the palate….”
