Sloan, Proprietary Red, Rutherford

Sloan, owned since 2011 by Hong Kong businessman Pan Sutong, farms 13 acres of a 40-acre hillside on the Mayacamas side of Rutherford, at about 875 to 1,000 feet in fractured volcanic rock, sandy loam and pale volcanic ash. It makes two reds, each usually 500–600 cases. Sloan Proprietary Red blends Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, and is robust, layered and firmly tannic. The second wine, Asterisk, is Cabernet and Merlot: plum, blackberry, tobacco and earth over silky tannins. Winemaker Martha McClellan cold-soaks for about a week, ferments part of the crop in rolled new French barrels and extends macerations to 45–60 days.

Appellation

Rutherford, Napa Valley

Owner

Pan Sutong (since 2011)

Vineyards

13 planted acres on a 40-acre hillside estate, ~875–1,000 ft, volcanic soils

Grapes

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot

Wines

Sloan Proprietary Red; Asterisk (second wine)

Style

Week-long cold soak, partial barrel fermentation in new French oak, 45–60 day macerations

Sources: napawineproject.com, symbolicwines.com