Projects traditionally start in one of two ways. The more common approach is someone has a great idea for a name/brand, trademarks it and goes searching for fruit to bring it to life. The other way has been the primary motivating factor for me in several projects. An opportunity too good to pass up (and in some cases, to believe) drops in my lap and that provides the spark to establish everything around it. When I received an email from Tom Garrett early in 2023 offering me 4 small pieces of his family's legendary Detert Vineyard, Dorsey was born.
Harvesting 2 blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon and 2 blocks of Cabernet Franc in 2023 is leading us to think we will see two wines coming from this magical spot, a Detert Vineyard old vine Cabernet Franc and a Detert Vineyard 100% Cabernet Sauvignon blended across clones 7 and 169. 2023 may be the best vintage I have ever seen for Napa Valley Bordeaux varietals so I'm extremely pleased with the way these wines are shaping up in barrel. We will look to bottle these beauties in summer 2025 and release our first vintage spring of 2026.