One of the truly great producers out of Napa, Aaron Pott built an illustrious winemaking resume as he took his studies at University of California, Davis, across the pond to Bordeaux. Pott was chosen to serve as winemaker at famed Right Bank house Château Troplong Mondot and later director of Château La Tour Figeac. Pott wanted to return to the Napa Valley and make world class Cabernet Sauvignon there, and served as Beringer’s “flying winemaker” making wine in France, Italy and Chile, later taking over as winemaker at St. Clement in 2001. Aaron then was honored to become winemaker at famed property Quintessa in 2004 which was the same year that he brilliantly purchased a 76 acre (.2 acres planted) property on Mt. Veeder and began to develop their own vineyards. 2007 marked the birth of Pott Wines and as the first vintage of Incubo was created. The rest has been history as critics across the globe has lauded these beautiful wines.
The wines are just sensational from 2021 and are for my palate just as good as the thrilling 2019s. Do not miss out on the 2021 Pott Wines ‘Dynamite with a Laser Beam’ Pinot Noir (OB, 96) which is a dense monster of a Pinot Noir with loads of dark fruits and earthy tones. I adored the new 2021 Pott Wines ‘Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 98) which is named for the Bond film that did not feature Roger Moore or Sean Connery, as the director chose model George Lazenby to play Bond. But this 2021 is a wine to make the late Sean Connery proud with its flavor density, complexity and seamless mouthfeel. earn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.pottwine.com/ Here are my tasting notes for the new Pott Wines.
2021 Pott Wines ‘Dynamite with a Laser Beam’ Pinot Noir- The absolutely stunning 2021 Pott Wines ‘Dynamite with a Laser Beam’ Pinot Noir comes from the Elswick Vineyard in the Anderson Valley. Medium to full-bodied, this is a beautiful, fleshy beast of a Pinot Noir from this region. Damp earth and shades of black truffle crudo combine with dark raspberry, roasted fig, wild blackberry and garrigue notes all combine on the palate. This is an utterly sensational wine with serious tension and weight that will cellar well for decades to come. Drink 2023-2040- 96
2021 Pott Wines ‘Stacked’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Stacked’ comes from the Remedium Vineyard on Howell Mountain. This site at 1500 feet elevation is set on aiken clay and sandy slam soils, as the wine combines Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Highly concentrated blackberries combine wth pencil lead, mocha and loamy soils on the palate, with stony accents. Brilliant and so well-balanced, with herbal tones from the Cabernet Franc, this is a gorgeous effort that is already singing in its heady youth. Give this an hour in the decanter before enjoying. Drink 2023-2040- 96
2021 Pott Wines ‘Agnes Sorel’ Cabernet Franc- Coming from the Pott Arc Vineyard, the ‘Agnes Sorel’ is a natural wine of organically grown Cabernet Franc from Mt. Veeder. Stored in amphorae this offers violets alongside coffee grounds, anise and shades of stony soils on the nose. Fresh and viscous, this comes off impeccably balanced with serious weight and tension, with refined tannins and a fantastic core of black and blue fruits. Generous and round on the mouth, this is drinking beautifully now and will continue to provide drinking enjoyment for another ten to fifteen years to come. Drink 2023-2038- 97
2021 Pott Wines ‘Space and Time’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Space and Time’ is sourced from the Chateauneuf-du-Pott Vineyard. Mostly Cabernet Franc with the remainder Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, this beautiful wine offers beautiful black and purple florals from the Franc immediately on the nose, alongside Turkish coffee, tar, wet stone and shades of wild blackberry compote. Harmonious and deep, with refined texture and outstanding weight, this is a totally stunning effort that is already really gratifying to savor now in its heady youth. Drink 2023-2040- 97
2021 Pott Wines ‘Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Pott Wines ‘Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the famed Stagecoach Vineyard which is located high atop Atlas Peak. 100% varietal, this is powerful and dense, yet impeccably refined. Silky tannins frame an ebullient core of black and blue fruits with loamy soils, mocha, creosote and suggestions of graphite. A total stunner, try a sip and you will be blown away just how good this is drinking at the two year mark. Drink 2023-2043- 98
2021 Pott Wines ‘Incubo’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Incubo’ comes from the Chateauneuf-du-pott Vineyard, located in the Mount Veeder AVA. The name comes from a mythical creature supposed to guard a hoarde of treasure. Violets, anise, and dark currants mark the nose alongside suggestions of wet stone. The palate is plush with a seamless mouthfeel and beautiful length. Showing beautiful poise and concentration, this is already nicely evolved and will live on for decades to come. Drink 2023-2040- 96