Robert John Vineyard is located at Napa Valley, California. It is one of the fastest and rapid growing company in USA. 

OUR STORY

Robert John Vineyards was founded in 2009 by Robert John Nowinski. It is one of the fastest and rapid growing company. Over the years, RJ had developed an appreciation for fine wines; especially California Cabernets. RJ’s deep appreciation for Cabernet wines ignited his creative energies and he formed a desire to create a premium Napa Cabernet that would stand up nicely against the best cult Cabernets produced today.

RJV is a limited production boutique winery located in Napa, California specializing in the highest quality cabernet sauvignon and sauvignon blanc wines.  RJV wines are produced in very limited quantities from the finest available grapes every year. The freedom to choose grapes from different vineyards every year allows them to account for seasonal variations in vintages and select the best grapes from the best vineyards to maximize the characteristics of any given vintage. Each wine they produce is different; you won’t find their vintages to be copies of the previous year. Each vintage is unique but shows the consistent characteristics that they bring to wines that they know you will love.

Our History

In 2009 after returning from a short day of surgery and feeling a bit bored RJ started calling grape growers and winery owners in the Napa Valley – asking if he could purchase fruit. He started with some of Napa’s most premium vineyards – terroir such as Georges III (in Rutherford) and Stagecoach Vineyard (Atlas Peak). He had his lawyer look into availability of possible names for his brand – but all were taken and RJ quickly realized that many wineries trademark names even if they aren’t actively using them. Then he thought, why not use his own name?

RJ oversees the wine making – making a number of trips to Napa every year including during critical harvest times. His winemaker Patrick Saboe curates the wine or as Patrick says, “coaches the wine” while RJ oversees the overall process including making barrel decisions, yeast selection and other important details. Robert John Vineyards wants to make a wine that he and Candice enjoy drinking – but over the years, certainly plenty of others have found their wines just as enjoyable.

Patrick came to the Napa Valley on his honeymoon in 1996, met some winemakers and decided to pursue a career change (he was working in the restaurant scene in Charleston, South Carolina at the time). He had lost his father a number of years earlier to a SCUBA diving accident and Patrick recalls being influenced by that tragedy; he decided that following his passion for wine was not something he wanted to wait for until retirement. He graduated from UC Davis with a degree in Enology & Viticulture and has worked for a number of Napa and Sonoma wineries. RJ met Patrick at Crushpad (where the first few vintages of his wine were made); Patrick has made every vintage.

At the time of this review two slightly older Sauvignon blancs were still available for purchase – but they are no longer producing this wine – rather focusing their efforts on Cabernet Sauvignon. Patrick believes in blending so each vintage of the Cabernet Sauvignon typically contains several other smaller percentages of Bordeaux grapes. Total production is still very small but growing – currently around 500-600 cases per year. Their first vintage was in 2009.                                    

OUR WINES

Robert John Vineyards source their grapes from only the finest vineyards in Napa Valley and produce our limited quantity wines with modern winemaking techniques.  RJV goal is to create the highest quality wines with great complexity and excellent aging potential. Multiple gold and double-gold medals have been awarded to their wines in international wine competitions and wines consistently receive high rating scores and reviews. Most importantly, RJV create wines that will be thoroughly enjoyed with family and friends!

RJV selects the best grapes from some of the most renowned Napa Valley vineyards such as Rutherford Bench and G3 in Rutherford, and Tourmaline, Angel Acres, and D’Ambrosio in Coombsville. they’ll blend wines from these vineyards to deliver a complex wine that meets meticulous standards; and if the vintage from a single vineyard is exceptional, they’ll produce a single vineyard wine and a limited edition Reserve wine.

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

NAPA VALLEY 2013

VINTAGE 2013

APPELLATIONNapa Valley, California

ALCOHOL13.8%

WINEMAKERPatrick Saboe

COMPOSITION100% Sauvignon Blanc

SOURCING/AGINGRyan’s Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
Oak Knoll, Napa Valley, California

Harvested: 9/10/2013
Brix at harvest: 23.2°
Aged 7 months sur lie in 50% stainless steel and 50% neutral French oak barrels

FERMENTATION Whole cluster pressed
Stainless steel primary fermentation
Partial malolactic fermentation in barrel

BLENDINGpH: 3.47, TA: 6.3 g/L

TASTING NOTES Aromas of nectarine, white flowers and tropical fruit. Flavors of ripe peaches, stone fruits and melon. Golden yellow color. 2013 was a fantastic vintage! This sauvignon blanc is round and vibrant with great acidity, crisp finish and ripe fruit flavors.

AWARDSBronze Medal 2015 SF Chronicle Wine Competition 
Bronze Medal 2014 SF International Wine Competition
Bronze Medal 2015 Grand Harvest Awards Wine Comp.

REVIEWS86 Points Wine Enthusiast 10/1/2014
This austere wine tastes lean with a touch of wax, honeysuckle and apple. Creamy seafood will coax out its soft and subtle nature.—V.B.

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

NAPA VALLEY 2009

VINTAGE             2009

APPELLATION    Napa Valley, California

ALCOHOL            14.6%

WINEMAKER     Kian Tavakoli

COMPOSITION  90% Cabernet Sauvignon

6% Petit Verdot

3% Cabernet Franc

1% Merlot

BLENDING     Blended and Bottled, Unfined & Unfiltered: 8/11/2011

TASTING NOTES       Plum, blackberries and a mulberry lead. The dark fruits compliment the silky tannins and just a hint of leaf and tar peak. The flavors come together brilliantly for a luxurious taste. Rich mocha and black cherry linger on the palate. The tannins are soft and abundant.

AWARDS      Double Gold Medal 2013 American Fine Wine Competition

Silver Medal 2013 SF Chronicle Wine Competition

Silver Medal 2013 International Wine Channel TV Awards

Bronze Medal 2012 Columbus Food & Wine Affair

Bronze Medal 2012 Grand Harvest Awards Wine Comp.

REVIEWS  

The nose is surprisingly understated, blackberries over a light aroma of vanilla. It is larger on the palate, offering up dark fruits cradled in silky tannins. Blackberries and mulberry lead, tobacco leaf and a hint of tar peak through on the mid-palate as the fruit takes a turn toward black cherry, followed by rich mocha that lingers on the finish. Tannins are soft but abundant. The mouth-feel is luxurious. Drink with local lamb. Highly Recommended