One of the outstanding newer winery projects in Napa, La Pelle was founded back in 2016 by Maayan Koschitzky, Miguel Luna and Pete Richmond. Literally translated as ‘The Shovel’ in French, La Pelle is an homage to the toiling process of vineyard management and the grape growing process to finally making the wine and removing grape skins with a shovel. All three owners have diverse backgrounds as Maayan is a winemaker and farmer from Israel, Miguel is a viticulturist and winemaker from Mexico, and Pete is a vineyard manager and business owner from Northern California).
Vines chosen for their wines are entirely sourced from Silverado Farming Company (which Pete founded in 2001 and Miguel joined as partner in 2015), La Pelle controls all farming and in addition has access to some of the finest vines in Napa Valley. I was really impressed with the new wines and adored the new 2019 La Pelle Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 93) which is fresh and vibrant with seriously good texture. Even better is the sensational 2018 La Pelle ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which has depth and concentration with another twenty plus years to go. Learn more about this outstanding newer outpost at lapellewines.com and here are my reviews of the brilliant new La Pelle wines.
2019 La Pelle Sauvignon Blanc- The 2019 La Pelle Sauvignon Blanc was aged on the lees for eighteen months, including weekly battonage for the first six months before bottling. Right away this shows beautiful honeydew melon tones alongside beeswax and nutty tones aromatically. Fresh and lithe, this shows bright acidity alongside lemon rind, white peach, green apple and shades of cashew nut on the palate. Enjoy this beautiful wine while the incredible bright, lip-smacking acidity, remains intact. Drink 2021-2025- 93
2019 La Pelle Chardonnay- This 2019 Chardonnay is sourced from 1973 plantings in the Bien Nacido Vineyard farmed by the Miller family. This was aged in oak barrels for twelve months, seeing native and malolactic fermentations. White peach, Gravenstein apple and baking spice flavors combine with stony undertones all brilliantly combine on the palate. Showing a soft mouthfeel with great finesse, this beautiful wine will cellar well for the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 93
2019 La Pelle ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 La Pelle Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from three distinct sites in the Napa Valley. Aged for eighteen months in 50% new French oak, this delivers cassis and mocha tones aromatically alongside tilled soils and stony undertones aromatically. The palate is plush with a seamless texture. Gorgeous creme de violette, mocha, tar and anise tones combine with minerals on the palate. Glorious to consume now, this has another fifteen to twenty years to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2037- 94
2018 La Pelle ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Slightly more dense and intense than the ‘Napa Valley’ bottling, the 2018 La Pelle ‘Reserve’ is a barrel selection wine that exudes class. Once on the nose this shows off cassis, chocolate covered dark currants and shades of Turkish coffee that all take shape in the glass. Seamless and soft with a plush texture, this delivers plenty of cassis, leather, anise and black cherry cordial flavors alongside a vibrant sense of minerality. Gorgeous to consume in its youth, this has another twenty years to go. Drink 2021-2041- 95