The 2017 growing season started with significant rainfall, marking the end of a six-year drought. Following bud break in the spring, summer featured typical Napa Valley weather with uniformly warm days and cool nights, which contributed to even ripening of the high-elevation, mountainside grapes and maintenance of balancing acidity. Heat waves in late August and early September assisted in the maturation of our grapes for harvest. Our flagship wine, 2017 Toymaker, was aged 28 months in new French oak prior to bottling and an additional 18 months in bottle prior to release. Quantities of our 2017 Toymaker are very limited and allocations are reserved for our mailing list members. 

Winemaker: Martha McClellan

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon (100%)

AVA: Napa Valley

Barrel aging: 28 months Taransaud French oak (100% new)

Alc.: 15.1%

Production: 105 cases

Tasting Notes: Dark ruby in color, the 2017 Toymaker leads with a panoply of bright red fruits and black cherries, aromatic cedar, hints of chocolate, and a kiss of creamy oak on the nose. On the palate, the entry is broad but lithe, featuring cherry notes that echo the aromas, set against a backdrop of ripe and supple tannins that lend structure and volume to the lingering finish. The 2017 vintage has bestowed on Toymaker a beguiling elegance that makes the wine approachable now but with a structure to age gracefully for many years in your cellar.

Made by Martha McClellan, Tin Soldier is 100% Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon vinified in the same manner as our flagship Toymaker, undergoing extended maceration and aged 28 months in all new French oak. This blend of select barrels is a delightfully elegant and approachable Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. 2017 TIN SOLDIER is available in limited quantities to our mailing list members only.

Winemaker: Martha McClellan
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon (100%)
AVA: Napa Valley
Barrel aging: 28 months Taransaud French oak (100% new)
Alc.: 15.1%
Production: 105 cases

Tasting Notes: Medium ruby in color, the 2017 Tin Soldier features cherry, red berry, chocolate, and vanilla aromas on the nose. The palate features cherry notes and bright acidity with ripe tannins that make the wine approachable upon release. This vintage of Tin Soldier is a study in elegance and balance.

Only 48 of these special 1.5 L bottles were painstakingly produced – each a work of art worthy of display in your cellar.

Our large format bottles are:

• Hand-etched and hand-painted to beautifully present our vintage-specific artwork
• Individually signed by our renowned winemaker, Martha McClellan
• Hand-dipped to feature elegant black wax capsules
• Individually hand-numbered*
• Packaged in a Toymaker-branded & lacquered walnut wood case

*Specific numbers may be requested on a first-come, first-served basis
 
Purchases are limited to one magnum per mailing list member, subject to availability.