During the more than two years that I didn’t write about wine, I accepted nearly no samples to taste. However on a couple of occasions, industry friends reached out offering wines and I accepted. Those were the instances when I really believed I’d resume writing any day. And in those few cases there was also something specific about the wines on offer that inspired me to say yes. You can read more about that in a story I posted about a month ago. In one of those circumstances I was offered some samples from Theorem Vineyards. While they’re located on Diamond Mountain in Napa Valley, they also produce some wines from Moon Mountain in Sonoma County. And as much as I love wines from Diamond Mountain, my personal fascination with wines from Moon Mountain dates back to one of my first trips to Sonoma County in the mid 90’s. Surely I thought, Moon Mountain wines will get me to pull some corks and write. I never did, until now.
Like Kisha and Jason Itkin purchased the property on Diamond Mountain in 2012 and restored it. That includes physical structures and the vineyards themselves. As they have a deep love for mountain fruit, they eventually purchased 34 acres on Moon Mountain which rides the Sonoma / Napa line. They’re a true Boutique Winery with roughly a half a dozen different wines and a total production of approximately 2,000 cases. I tasted through three of their releases and my main thought, outside of simply being impressed with the wines is, I need to get out there and visit them in person, and taste the wines where they’re born.
Theorem Vineyards 2019 Moon Mountain Sauvignon Blanc ($48)
221 cases of this wine were bottled. 25% of the fruit is the Musque Clone of Sauvignon Blanc, the balance is Clone 1. The nose here leans towards the gentle side. Citrus and nectarine aromas are joined by bits of wet limestone. Deeply layered flavors of pineapple, additional citrus, and papaya are here in intermingling droves. The finish is honeyed and persistent. Put simply, this is a show stopper of a Sauvignon Blanc. It’s an incredibly nuanced wine with incredible mouthfeel. If you love Sauvignon Blanc, you need to taste this. If you don’t, this one might just convert you.
Theorem Vineyards 2018 Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon ($95)
238 cases of this wine were bottled. It’s composed entirely of Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark and inky are the first words that come to mind here. That includes visually in the glass, the aromatics and the driving flavors. Black plum, Morello cherry, and Savory Herbs that bring to mind Greek food, are evident. Blackberry, plum, dark chocolate and pencil lead are all evident from the first sip. Bits of red fruit peek through as well. The finish is lengthy and structured. There’s a freshness here from the vein of acid that runs through. Delicious now, everything about this wine screams age worthiness. As it’s the first vintage from this vineyard, the future is quite promising.
Theorem Vineyards 2018 Hawk’s Prey ($110)
399 cases of this wine were bottled. It’s entirely Cabernet Sauvignon from Diamond Mountain. 2019 is the current vintage of this wine. Depth, richness, and concentration are the first three words that this Cabernet evokes. While the Moon Mountain Cabernet shows hints of red fruit, this one is marked by entirely dark fruit elements. Blackberry, raspberry, and kirsch liqueur are prominent aromatics. Ripe blackberry, black raspberry and dark chocolate sauce drive the palate along with bits of chicory. The finish is persistent and concentrated. Mountain fruit can show some brawn at times, this wine exhibits a peek into that. Decant it for a couple of hours and pair it with Lamb Kabobs and Orzo salad laced with great Feta cheese.
I tasted these wines side by side without food. However, I’m inspired to make or order some Greek food and spreads to pair with them later, especially that Moon Mountain Cabernet. This is an impressive and meticulously crafted trio of wines well worth dipping into your luxury wine budget to acquire.