Calla Lily was founded by three friends from Hong Kong, utilizing the talents of Cary Gott. The three friends settled on the Napa Valley after looking at properties around Europe. Cary Gott has 40 years’ experience at Sterling Vineyards, Seagram Classics and Mumm Napa, was brought on board as chief winemaker.
I have really been enjoying these wines for years now. The wines are consistently great with serious tannin, power and really good drinkability. The new wines come from the strong 2021 vintage — one that was hot but had few heat spikes. I adored the new 2021 Calla Lily ‘Auxax’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is dense and heady with great aging potential. Learn more at https://callalilywines.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Calla Lily wines.
2021 Calla Lily ‘Ultimate Red’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A stunning wine made from mainly Cabernet Sauvignon with lesser portions Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, this spent 22 months in 40% new French oak before bottling. This is dense and heady stuff, loaded with black currants, tobacco leaf, blackberry compote and mocha tones. Enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2024-2034- 93
2021 Calla Lily ‘Audax’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The stunning 2021 ‘Audax’ is a dense and decadent bottling that has a long way to go in the cellar. Stored in 50% new French oak for 27 months, this delivers full-bodied loganberry cordial, mocha, tar and freshly tilled loamy soils on the palate, alongside shades of milk chocolate. Big and bold, enjoy this broad-shouldered Cabernet Sauvignon now and over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2024-2040- 95