Back in 2018 when Gaylon Lawrence purchased the iconic Heitz Cellars the deal included some 425 acres of vineyards around Napa Valley. One such vineyard was Ink Grade. Originally planted in 1873 by Theron Ink, this mountainside has long been recognized as a special place to grow grapes. The site was so distinctive the team decided to create a new brand based entirely around this historic and dramatic vineyard. Situated on the eastern slopes of Howell Mountain (parts of the vineyard are just below the official AVA boundary and thus labelled as Napa valley). The vineyard has numerous blocks many carved into the hillside as steep terraces. It's a wild, remote, mountainous site that produces dramatic wines. Under Heitz family stewardship the site has been farmed using meticulous organic forming methods since the 1980s. This continues today with CCOF and Biodynamic certification. Since 2018 winemaker Matt Taylor has sought to define this unique terroir by capturing the raw, rugged land in refined elegant wines. The wines are fermented with native yeast, aged for 24 months primarily in large format oak casks and foudre with another portion going into top quality new French oak. The 2018 Andosol Red Blend combines mountain-grown Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Zin brings deep brambly fruit, blackberry and kirsch. The Cabernet adds big, bold structure, hints of cassis, Bay laurel, and graphite. The wine is a distinctive mineral core from the volcanic tufa soils, and some savory mountain chapparal elements add more intrigue. As with establishing any new brand, despite top pedigree and getting great scores from the critics, the winery was a little long on inventory and made us a sweet deal on this wine! We're offering it at more than 50% off the original price and at least $15 a bottle less than elsewhere!

"Ink" is an appropriate name for this wine—plush, full-bodied midnight black fruit from the zinfandel mingles with the silky yet robust tannins of the cabernet sauvignon. This is a lot of wine for the price!