Summer 2020

Melanson Estate Vineyard

As we write this issue of the newsletter, the rebirth of springtime is transitioning into summer. We continue to meticulously care for our exceptional Estate vineyards with all the normal cadence of activities and attention to detail. At our winery, we are preparing to finish bottling the 2018 Pulido~Walker Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. After the blending sessions in February, we knew that this will be another spectacular vintage.

We hope this summer renews your spirits and provides many opportunities to share the pleasures of wine and food with friends and family (either virtually or in-person).

Upcoming 2017 Pulido~Walker from Melanson Vineyard

Jeb Dunnuck’s review of our 2017 Pulido~Walker single vineyard designate from the high-elevation Melanson Vineyard site includes:

“…From a vineyard on Pritchard Hill, just across from Colgin, and 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, this inky colored beauty offers loads of blueberry and blackcurrant liqueur-like fruits as well as lots of spice, flowery incense, and subtle herbal undertones. Textbook Cabernet on the nose, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, building tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a great, great finish. It’s one of the few wines in the vintage that comes close to rivaling its 2015 and 2016 counterparts.”
97 points JebDunnuck.com, January 2020

We celebrate the release of the 2017 vintage of Pulido~Walker Cabernet Sauvignon from Melanson Vineyard with your invitation to purchase being sent in early June.

Pulido~Walker Experience via Zoom: A personally curated virtual tasting experience

With travel limited across the country, Pulido~Walker curated a very personal virtual tasting experience and tested it with a small group of collectors and friends over the last month. We are absolutely delighted with the phenomenal response we had from them. Now we would like to offer you this unique opportunity to bring Napa Valley into your home by hosting you for a personal wine tasting experience via Zoom.

“Thank you so much for taking the time to entertain and enlighten us about Pulido~Walker wines. It was both fun and informative… And very much appreciated. As I mentioned, your enthusiasm is contagious. Under normal circumstances this would have been a fun event but in light of the happenings in the world around us, it was even more special. Thank you once again! I hope we have an opportunity to meet face to face in the near future.” —Albert M., Portland, Oregon

: Austin Gallion
Director of National Sales

: Julia Wildt
Director of Hospitality

It is as simple as 1-2-3

1. Purchase Your Virtual Tasting Kit

Pulido~Walker Virtual Tasting Kit includes:

One 750ml bottle of 2017 Pulido~Walker from Panek Vineyard, located on the valley floor adjacent to Vineyard 29 Aida Estate in St Helena
One 750ml bottle of 2017 Pulido~Walker from Melanson Vineyard, located on iconic Pritchard Hill adjacent to Colgin Estate
Tasting Notes
The kit is $450 with shipping included.

Purchase

2. Schedule Your Personally Curated Individual Tasting Experience

Once your tasting kit has shipped, we will contact you to schedule a time for your personally curated Virtual Tasting via Zoom. The tasting experience can be private or you can invite wine-enthusiast family and friends to share the tasting with you.

3. Enjoy Your Pulido~Walker Wines with Us From the Comfort of Your Home!

During your Virtual Tasting, we will replicate the experience you would have if you were visiting us in Napa. We will guide you through a tasting of these two exceptional, limited- production wines, crafted by Thomas Rivers Brown, as well as share stories of the Pulido~Walker journey to “Pursue the Possible” including: our remarkable vineyards, winemaking practices, and suggestions for food and wine pairings.

If you have any questions or need assistance with acquiring your tasting kit, please feel free to contact us at 707-226-1900 or [email protected]

Happenings in the Vineyard

“The magic in new beginnings is truly the most powerful of them all.”
Josiyah Martin, Novelist and Poet

Bud break is the first step in the growth cycle of grape vines, and an easily identifiable one: pruned vines boast new growth in the form of small, bright green buds. Warm daytime temperatures spawned the beginning of bud break in our vineyards with the Chardonnay in mid-March followed by the Cabernet Sauvignon a few weeks later.

Suckering is a vital part of vineyard maintenance, as it redirects the vine’s energy to the most important shoots. When crews sucker the vines, they are essentially removing all of the unnecessary shoots, resulting in fewer clusters but greater concentration of flavors in the remaining clusters. This effort will result in low yields and super premium grapes at harvest. The second benefit of suckering is opening up the canopy to allow air movement through the vines, preventing excess moisture and the risk of powdery mildew.

Clusters are beginning to develop in the vineyards. While this growth can be slow at first, the leaves and shoots gradually expand and cluster florets develop as temperatures continue to rise. After a few weeks in sunshine and warmth, the period of most rapid growth begins. These shoots can grow an inch or more per day! It is a joy to watch this next vintage develop on the vine.

Next steps: Flowering and fruit set

For more in-depth information regarding the process of suckering and shoot removal at our Mt. Veeder Estate Vineyard, watch this video featuring Orlando Alvarez of Clark Vineyard Management.