Field Book Rossi Vineyard Heritage Red Wine
2022

Planted in 1905 by an Italian immigrant family, the Rossi Vineyard is one of Napa Valley’s oldest surviving vineyards. With bale clay loam alluvial soils and rugged, head-trained vines originally planted to the family’s favorite varieties, the vineyard naturally evolved into a true field blend. As individual vines died, they were replanted to other selections, creating a massale selection of heritage varieties known as “mixed blacks.”

For over 30 years, this vineyard was the source of Sean Thackrey’s flagship wine, Orion. In a complete retrospective tasting for Vinous in 2015, Stephen Tanzer wrote: “Of all of the cult wines of California, Sean Thackrey’s singular Orion bottling is right at the top of my personal list, particularly so as I’ve been following this consistently fascinating wine since its maiden voyage in 1986.”

Building upon this history, in 2021 Spottswoode began farming this singular four-acre parcel along the northwest border of its estate. Somewhat overlooked for a few vintages, the vineyard offers the rare opportunity to rehabilitate and preserve a vital piece of St. Helena’s rich winegrowing history.

Each vintage, Spottswoode utilizes organic, biodynamic and regenerative organic farming practices to create a dynamic, complex, and richly hued old-world blend which authentically speaks to the history and resilience of this special piece of land and those who first planted it.

Winemaker Notes: A balance of texture and structure on the palate presents a dark, saturated wine that is light enough on its feet to be vibrantly playful and evolving. Powerful expressions of blackberry and black cherry are backed by elegant, perfumed rhubarb, sweet tobacco, iron earth, and dried herbs. Chalky tannins and juicy acidity lay the foundation for a lasting finish.

Vintage Notes: After two challenging drought years, the 2022 growing season began with much-needed rainfall, allowing the dry-farmed vines that had suffered considerably to start their recovery. Though yields were still extremely low and the vines showed a need to restore some of their carbohydrate storage, a healthy bloom in May set the stage for a balanced season. As a dry farmed vineyard, the fruit ripened very early, and was harvested on September 1st, just before the intense Labor Day heat. The old vines, with their extremely tiny yields, delivered a richly hued blend with tremendous concentration – history in a glass!