Wines – Impensata Wine

Inspired by our family’s Italian forebears, we embrace the iconoclastic winemaking of modern Italy in what is typically Francophile territory here in Napa Valley. Our muse is Maremma, the “wild west” of southern Tuscany, with its bucolic, hillside vineyards that are home to some of the region’s most imaginative and pioneering bottlings: Sassicaia, Masseto, Redigaffi, and Messorio. Sharing a similar climate and spirit of innovation, we pay homage to our ancestors’ love of farming and their passion for food, wine, and time spent with family and friends.

Festina Lente. Make haste, but make time.

2019 Impensata Engelhard Vineyard Calistoga Proprietary Red

Nestled between 600 and 720 feet in elevation, the Engelhard Vineyard resides within the Calistoga AVA, just north of the Diamond Mountain District AVA border, giving birth to its distinctive terroir. In these western hillsides, where volcanic soils are known to reign supreme, Engelhard stands apart with its Forward-Kidd soil series, uniquely weathered from rhyolite and volcanic ash known as rhyolitic tuff. This well-draining soil urges roots to delve deep into the Earth in search of water, nutrients, and trace elements. Through this struggle, the vines yield a concentration of phenolic compounds, weaving an unparalleled intricate tapestry of power and flavor. But the story does not end with the soil, as the Engelhard Vineyard is blessed with a microclimate that nurtures the growth of extraordinary fruit. Basking in the ripening power of the Calistoga AVA's warmth and sun, this pocket of land is gently tempered by the cooling Chalk Hill Gap from Sonoma. With the tender caress of cool nights, morning fog, and afternoon breezes, the vines bask in respite, guarded against the intense daytime heat. This delicate balance preserves the freshness and natural acidity of the grapes, laying the foundation for wines that embody vibrancy, richness, structure, and finesse.

The Engelhard Estate Vineyard in the western hills of Calistoga continues to produce some of the most undeniably exquisite fruit in Napa Valley. The 2019 Engelhard Proprietary Red, crafted by winemaker Nigel Kinsman and blender Michel Rolland, is a co-fermented mélange of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 12% Petit Verdot, and 8% Malbec. "An absolute beauty, the 2019 Engelhard Vineyard Proprietary Red boasts all the energy, expression, and power this site has become known for; and captures the essence of one of Napa Valley's most under-the-radar vineyards." Nigel Kinsman. With just 222 cases lovingly produced, this wine manifests our unwavering commitment to harnessing the spirit of this extraordinary vineyard.

2021 Impensata Merlot Napa Valley

We sourced our 2021 Ecotone Vineyard Merlot from a single acre of this legendary site (formerly known as Thorevilos). The 2021 harvest produced low yields of intensely flavored, small berries, which in the hands of winemakers Nigel Kinsman and Michel Rolland, were crafted into what Jeb Dunnuck called, “A killer Merlot offering beautiful dark currant, mulberry and black cherry fruits as well as candied violets, darker chocolate, and Asian spices.”

2019 Impensata Las Posadas Vineyard Howell Mountain Proprietary Red

David Abreu and his wines need no introduction, nor do the legendary vineyards he farms. The wines produced from his vineyards are revered by many and attained by few. And over the last thirty years, only a select band of vintners have been allowed to source from Abreu's personal vineyards for projects of their own. Our key to the gate was forged from a partnership and friendship between David Abreu and our founder, Louis Ciminelli, permitting us passage to study Howell Mountain fruit while we patiently waited for our own estate vineyard on Howell Mountain to mature. Knowing we were still years away from producing wines from the vineyard he was helping to develop with us, Abreu suggested we source fruit from his Las Posadas Vineyard on Howell Mountain. Similar in climate, elevation, and soil composition to our property on the northeastern side of the mountain, this would allow our winemaker, Nigel Kinsman, the opportunity to experiment with Howell Mountain fruit. Not to anyone's surprise, what began as "research and development" resulted in our first Howell Mountain Proprietary Red Wine in 2019.

The Lucia Abreu Las Posadas Vineyard sits majestically atop Howell Mountain, surrounded by a quiet forest of fir and pine trees. Planted high above the fog line with predominantly Bordeaux varietals in Red Aiken soils over layered white tufa, this special vineyard has become known as the "benchmark" of Howell Mountain. Our 2019 Howell Mountain Proprietary Red from Abreu's Las Posadas Vineyard is a mélange of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% Cabernet Franc with a small percentage of Petit Verdot and Malbec. This debut vintage, crafted by Nigel Kinsman and blended by Michel Rolland, hedonistically captivating and wildly luxurious and possesses the classic characteristics this site has become known for: personality, opulence, complexity, and longevity. Only 279 cases produced.

2023 Impensata Ciminelli Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

Last year when we released our first Sauvignon Blanc from our Howell Mountain estate vineyard, we were thrilled with its complexity, given the vines’ youth. This second release, the 2023 Ciminelli Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc confirms that first year was no beginner’s luck but a harbinger of great things to come. We blended Sauvignon Blanc with small amounts of Sauvignon Musqué and Semillon, and aged in a combination of new French oak and stainless steel to honor varietal character and this mountain terroir. Antonio Galloni noted, “A vibrant, striking wine, the 2023 is a reminder of how distinctive Sauvignon Blanc-based wines can be on Howell Mountain.”