Nord Estate Wines

This longtime grower and relatively new producer, is consistently making wines of complexity and backbone that are vineyard-driven and specific to appellation. This edition, from the family’s best-known vineyard is typical of what Nord has been turning out.

The Page Nord Vineyard is located on Dry Creek Road, northwest of the town of Napa and near the base of Mt. Veeder. The deep clay loam soils are drained by layers of sand and gravel, causing
slow growth in the vines in early summer. Irrigation is limited and a no-till floor regimen is employed to achieve concentration of
flavors. The Cab block responsible for this wine features small clusters of fruit from moderately vigorous vines. The split canopy trellis allows careful fine-tuning of the canopy to optimize fruit exposure.

The wine is substantive and tight with excellent restrained fruit, balance, and evident tannins for aging for up to 10 years. But I’d hold onto it for a year or two and let the whole thing settle down in the bottle.
  
The listed alcohol is a surprising 15.5 percent; I never would have guessed as it is so well-integrated. There were 221 cases produced.

Reviewed June 20, 2006 by Alan Goldfarb.