Brilliant California fruit to the forefront is the hallmark of Newton Red Label wines. Sourced from Newton’s estate vineyards and other Napa, Sonoma and coastal vineyards these wines are made in the Newton tradition to showcase the purity of fruit.

Tasting notes

Enticing notes of ripe pear and green apple mingle with light butterscotch, vanilla and almond aromas. On the palate, ripe pear combines with pie crust and golden delicious apple flavors, accented by a hint of orange zest. The layers of flavor and appealing texture persist throughout the plush, creamy finish.

Rating

Wine News Rating:89 Points

Wine maker notes

The single square mile of hillside pioneered by the Newtons in 1977 is an impressive site, with expansive vistas of Napa Valley and beyond. It is also notoriously difficult to farm, presenting challenges for the winegrowing team who must care for a vineyard located on a 30° slope at elevations ranging from 500 to 1600 feet above sea level. One hundred twenty of the 560 acres are planted in terraces with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot – 112 separate parcels in all. Each parcel differs in terms of soil types, sun exposures, and individual microclimates. The parcels are set among the native vegetation to preserve the ecosystem of the hillside.

Technical notes

Aged: 9 months in º 1 year old, º 2 year old, º 3 year old, º 4 year old French oak barrels

Other text

The approach to winemaking is meticulous, using techniques based on an old-world style including natural fermentation and bottling without filtration whenever possible. The grapes are handled with care, hand-picked in small lots and transferred for gentle pressing to the Spring Mountain cellar. The winery is custom-designed to allow lots from 112 distinct parcels to ferment separately, affording the winemaker an abundance of options when constructing final blends. Barrel aging takes place in a cave built into the mountain directly underneath the winery. The Puzzle and Unfiltered wines are always bottled without fining or filtration which may remove some of the subtleties and distinctive characters produced in the vineyards. These purist traditions take more time and care, but the outstanding fruit produced in this mountain vineyard deserves special attention. The artisan approach pioneered thirty years ago continues to drive the winemaking philosophy at Newton Vineyard today.

Food pairing

The subtle acidity and creamy finish in this well-balanced Chardonnay make it a versatile, food-friendly choice. We suggest pairing this wine with seafood like baked halibut, roasted poultry or richer pasta dishes with a cream sauce.