SWIRL WINE BROKERS® Vineyard 29 – 6043247706271

Winery Notes:
Vineyard 29’s Aida Estate Vineyard is located 2 miles north of the 29 Estate vineyard on Highway 29. It is a historic property that has produced wine since the 1920s when Petite Sirah vines were first planted at this site. In 2001, Chuck and Anne acquired Aida as an ideal complement to Vineyard 29’s home vines. An upgrade of the vineyard was immediately undertaken with several vine blocks being replanted. Cabernet sauvignon now serves as the backbone for our Aida Estate vineyard; however the old zinfandel vines are still a key part of Vineyard 29’s portfolio providing fruit for our Aida Estate Zinfandel and our Aida Estate Late Harvest Zinfandel.

Ratings and Reviews

95 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate:
“The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Aida Estate, from a site that sits on the valley floor at a slightly lower elevation than the Vineyard 29 Estate, is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. It spent 20 months in 75% new French oak and there are 740 cases of this stunning wine. Chuck McMinn and his wine consultant Philippe Melka have really zeroed in on what a great performer this vineyard can be, for not only Zinfandel, but Cabernet Sauvignon. Opaque purple in color with notes of beef blood, blackcurrants, blackberry, licorice, spice box and charcoal, this is a great Napa Cabernet Sauvignon that is full-bodied, powerful and masculine in style, but silky, because of the vintage’s soft tannins. Drink it over the next 20 or more years.”- Robert M. Parker Jr (28th October 2016)

98 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (2013 vintage):
“On the valley floor, with a layer of small stones, is the Aida Estate, one of my favorite vineyards just north of St. Helena. The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Aida Estate is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc aged 20 months in three-fourths new French oak. The good news is that there are 800 cases of this magnificent wine, with a somewhat Graves-like scorched-earth, charcoal, burning ember-scented nose, with notes of hot earth, blackberry and cassis fruit. Big, full-bodied, exuberant and rich, this thick, unctuously textured, purple wine should drink beautifully for 25-30 or more years.” – Robert M. Parker, Jr. (29th Oct 2015)

91 Points – Antonio Galloni (2013 vintage):
“A huge, bombastic wine, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Aida Estate hits the palate with notable density and pure power. Bittersweet chocolate, espresso, torrefaction and dark stone fruits abound. Flashy and opulent, the 2013 is built on a core of massively extracted fruit. This warm site on the northern edge of St. Helena leans towards opulence, something the winemaking seeks to accentuate.” – Antonio Galloni (October 2015)