Helianthus Red 2013Napa Valley

Last week we visited new vintners (but definitely not newcomers to the wine business) Jason Exposto and Jessica Futo. Jason is the winemaker at Futo for Jessica’s family’s vineyard in Oakville and now also Stags Leap District.  Together with the debut of Helianthus, they have created a wine from a key vineyard south of Soda Canyon Road in Napa Valley. “On extremely rocky volcanic soils, at an elevation of 300ft at the southern end of the valley, the site experiences huge diurnal shifts in temperature, with very cool foggy mornings. But with a southwestern exposition, it is bathed in sunshine long into the evening. The resulting wine is singular in its three dimensional aromatics, and concentrated yet ethereal frame.” In the glass, this 2013 showcases precise dark red fruit with focused acidity and a great framework that will continue to evolve with a few years of age. Jason is a phenomenal winemaker and his efforts at Futo have proven that each year. This debut vintage is another example of his precise attention to detail both in the vineyard as well as in the winery.“The 2013 is a distillation of florals and fruit. Vibrant aromas of crushed lavender, black tea, and blue fruits are voluminous and layered. On the palate there is superb levity and richness; creme de cassis, licorice, and wild savory meld into a sweet core, and are framed by an ethereal sense of purity. The ample concentration and structure of the wine is pixilated into a thrilling fabric of fruit and perfume. This wine will continue to reward those with patience and cold cellars.” – Jason Exposto. 508 cases were produced.