2014 Nine Suns Napa Valley Red Blend

Their 40 acre property is planted to 23 acres of vines (HOUYI Vineyard) – all five primary Bordeaux red varietals are planted on site including the majority, Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petite, Verdot and Malbec. As with a number of their Pritchard Hill neighbors, their own soils are extremely rocky and iron rich red in color. Vines were already here when the Chang’s purchased – the oldest vines on site date to 2004. After purchasing the property the family initially sold the grapes to several premium producers and continue to do so including to premium Napa producers Realm and Fairchild. The first wine they produced was from the 2011 vintage (200 cases) but elected not to release it. Their first commercial release was a 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon.
The focus of their production is a Cabernet Sauvignon centric Bordeaux styled blend that incorporates some of the other red varietals grown on site. They also produce an additional estate wine – 2016 most likely will be their first Rhone styled blend – with the primary varietal being Grenache along with some Syrah. There is not much Grenache planted in the Napa Valley and certainly not on Pritchard Hill. They have about one acre of Grenache vines. This varietal has already done well in their rocky soils – but they have to keep a close eye on the quantity of fruit these vines produce. If they see the vines have set a large crop immediately following flowering – vineyard workers will go through every bunch by hand rubbing off some of the small grapes – effectively opening up the cluster and limiting the amount of fruit.

The name Nine Suns was carefully chosen to honor their heritage. Nine Suns is part of a Chinese legend (often told to children) where 10 individual suns would rise and set each day taking turns doing so. One day all ten suns rose at once and the earth soon suffered due to the heat. Houyi, a mythological Chinese archer was given the task of eliminating the suns – he successfully shot down 9 suns leaving only one.

Winemaker Sam Kaplan has made all of their vintages (also winemaker for Arkenstone and Memento Mori)