Visit Number One! My recent visit to Napa Valley began, after a quick drive in from the Sacramento International Airport, at Dowdell Lane in St. Helena, with Lisa Redmon at her Redmon Ranch. Note: This winery is small, private, and not open to the public so you must make an appointment in order to visit.
In the DP Wine Cellar we have decided to rack Redmon 2012,’13, & ‘14 Estate Cabs, ’13 Cab blend, and new ’15 Mt. Veeder. Plus her 2014 Merlot.
Going east and tucked in about half way on the south side of Dowdell sits the oasis of the Redmon Ranch. You know you are in for a great visit when the owner, Lisa Redmon, meets you with a big smile, a friendly wave from the porch with a glass – and it’s already filled with what I soon learn is her wonderfully aromatic and refreshing Chardonnay.
As Lisa leads off with a quick tour of the Redmon grounds, I notice the bubbly and it wasn’t in the glass. Rather it was Lisa herself. Perhaps this comes from her years of helping run her family’s A&W franchise in St. Helena, which is a cool story all its own, but actually I believe is rooted in her serious passion for making terrific Napa wines!
Lisa’s farm has some of the oldest, still producing cabernet sauvignon vines (Clone 6) in the Valley at over 50 years old. While Lisa admits her oldest vines may not produce the most fruit, she loves them for their history and the beauty of the juice the fruit provides. Plus when your vineyard neighbors include the likes of Del Dotto and Corison and Crocker & Starr is across the Lane, you know you are on some great terroir. As a fan of her wines, I can wholeheartedly agree Lisa has a true gem on her hands!
Sitting in the sunny kitchen of the Ranch House overlooking her estate vines and Lisa began to pour her wines. Just as enjoyably she also poured forth her stories and history. Personally, I loved the stories of her A&W roots since I grew up a huge fan of ‘that frosty mug taste’ and, although far away from St. Helena in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota, my favorite drive-in was the A&W there, hard on the shores of beautiful Lake Minnetonka.
In the corner of the room sits an old plastic bucket and some small, now unused, seemingly antique bottling equipment. This, Lisa explains, is the very bucket and equipment she and her family used to make their very first bottles of wine! Lisa poured her Chardonnay, three Cabernets (two blends and one Estate), and her Merlot. As I said her Chardonnay was delightful, but for me it was her reds that captured my heart! As we discussed vintages, Lisa let slip she is partial to her 2013, so keep that in mind! The Redmon Merlot is fruity velvet while her Cabs are some of the smoothest, fullest, and most satisfying I’ve enjoyed. While I agree with Lisa her ’13 is awesome, the Mount Veeder was perhaps even a bit more exceptional!
Lisa only produces around 1,000 cases a year in total so naturally her wines are highly sought after. You need to know she only sells them onsite and via DtC. This makes them a natural and perfect fit for our cellar philosophy! When our family and friends come into our cellar and if they grab a bottle of Redmon wine they not only ask: Who made this? Where is it from? Why did you buy it? After they taste it they add an additional ‘W’ for “WOW!”
Redmon Ranch is a great visit – a wonderful, approachable winemaker, a comfortable and sincere piece of Napa history, and wow-inducing wines! Oh, and when you visit, be sure to ask Lisa about the meaning of her logo!
Redmon wines are poured at The Saint wine tasting bar at 1351 Main Street in St. Helena.
You can find Lisa and Redmon wines online at http://www.redmonwines.com