There are a multitude of superlatives being used to describe the 2023 Napa Valley vintage, and while we like to avoid hyperbole, it’s not a stretch to say that our experience of this vintage was one of the most joyful in quite some time.
The best growing seasons give us the least to talk about, no drama, just smooth sailing. 2023 was that kind of blessedly uneventful season across the Napa Valley. It began with above-average rainfall, replenishing reservoirs and erasing drought conditions. Budbreak came on the later side due to all that rain, but the trade-off was an extra month or more of hang time on the other end.
Patience was key. Once we got past a certain date on the calendar with no intense heat events, we felt confident de-leafing the cooler side of the vines. Another heat milestone passed, and we’d exhale and de-leaf the afternoon side of the canopy as well. So it went, making little tweaks to the clusters and a series of micro passes as the days got shorter using every last hour to ripen the fruit to our liking; 2023 afforded us that luxury.
We harvested fruit from the Mt. Veeder Estate Vineyard on November 1st and 2nd, bringing in a generous and beautifully balanced yield. Not only was it a big crop, but the berries were also on the larger side. Clone 30, which took center stage in 2022, did well again in 2023 comprising 22% of this blend—almost double that of Clone 15. But Clone 685 was once again the standout from this vineyard, making up the lion’s share of the 2023 vintage.
Winemaking & Tasting Notes
A plentiful yield and larger berries can require extra effort in the cellar to achieve optimal extraction, but that was not the case in 2023. The fruit was so fully developed, extraction was effortless. From the very first taste, it was clear: this vintage is something special. The wine opens with floral and tobacco nuances accented by savory notes of bay leaf and a pleasing smokiness. Blue-fruited and juicy, it showcases all the signature elements we love about Mt. Veeder yet free from the angular tannins sometimes associated with this rugged AVA.
The result is a wine of exceptional balance, where vibrant acidity, layered concentration, and mountain-grown elegance come together seamlessly. Polished, expressive, and true to its site, the 2023 Pulido~Walker Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon offers both immediate appeal and long-term promise. It’s a wine that will captivate today and reward a decade from now—a truly memorable vintage.
Thomas Rivers Brown, Winemaker
Data
Estate Grown
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Clones: 15, 30, and 685
Aging: 20 months in 100% French oak (75% new barrels)
Barrel Coopers: Baron, Darnajou, La Grange, and Taransaud
Alcohol: 14.9% by vol.
Titratable Acidity: 5.8 g/L
pH: 3.92
Bottling Date: June 2025
Production: 556 Cases
Site
Appellation: Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley
Acreage: 15 acres at the southern end of Mt. Veeder
Elevation: 650–960 ft.
Soil Composition: Weathered sandstone, fractured shale, and clay loam
Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon (75%) and Chardonnay (25%)
