Chateau Boswell and Bevan Cellars Shine at Napa Futures Auction

Chateau Boswell takes 2013 Premiere Napa Valley by storm earning the top lot price of $75,000 for its offering crafted in partnership with Bevan Cellars. The 2011 wine blend by Russell Bevan is Clone 4 Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from the Boswell Estate Vineyards, a rocky hillside location just north of St Helena on Silverado Trail, and Merlot from the rocky Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard in southern Napa Valley. The lot’s tongue-in-cheek description read “This wine will rock you,” and to many on-hand at this past weekend’s tasting for the trade, it did.

Chateau Boswell is the quintessential “under the radar” producer. Owner Susan Boswell and son-in-law Josh Peeples have been patiently putting all the components together over the past decade or so—from enhancing their estate vineyards to sourcing some of the region’s most sought-after grapes, and boring state-of-the-art wine caves into their hillside while all along working the cellars themselves to nurture the production. They make small lots of nearly a dozen wines between the two portfolios—Chateau Boswell with its Estate-grown Cabernet and Chardonnay from vineyards like Ritchie and Dutton Ranch, and wines bottled under the Jacquelynn label representing great Napa Valley Cabernet vineyards like Beckstoffer To Kalon.

“Russell Bevan is a terrifically talented winemaker and an absolute delight to work with. He and partner Victoria De Crescenzo produce their Napa Valley wines at Chateau Boswell under their own label, Bevan Cellars, and now he has the reigns of our Boswell and Jacquelynn portfolios as well,” said owner Susan Boswell.

“Not only is the wine unique on so many levels, but so is the collaboration between these two brands. Right out of the gate things are meshing nicely. All of us are energized by our new partnership,” said Boswell. Speaking on the success of the Premiere auction, partner Josh Peeples said, “This is a great sign of where Chateau Boswell’s wines are headed—having Russell on board is just the final polish Susan and I have been working toward. We couldn’t be happier.”

The 2013 Premiere Napa Valley lot of Chateau Boswell/Bevan Cellars was purchased by Total Wine and More of Potomac, Maryland. The wine is sold as a “futures” and the bidder takes possession when the wine is finished and bottled. Savvy retailers across the country and around the globe gather to taste and bid on just over 200 wines crafted just for this auction to offer rare wines for their most discerning customers. Wines under the Premiere Napa Valley label are always included in well-curated wine cellars.

About Chateau Boswell and Jacquelynn Wines The team at every level is committed to its philosophy of zero compromise winemaking of small lot premium wines that display the unique characteristics of their vineyard sources through old-world, low intervention winemaking techniques. Whether it is berry by berry sorting for Cabernet, or the gentle stirring of barrel-fermented Chardonnay—each team member brings a belief in a Quality without Compromise approach. Learn more at www.chateauboswellwinery.com

Russell Bevan Takes the Reins for 2012 Harvest

The Boswell family is pleased to announce that Russell Bevan has been appointed winemaker for Chateau Boswell and Jacquelynn Wines. Russell’s winemaking style is well-suited to the winery’s focus on small-lot production of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Russian River Valley Chardonnay from some of the most renown vineyards in California; Ritchie, Dutton and Beckstoffer. When asked about Russell's winemaking, Robert Parker said "Although last year I gave superb reviews to two of Bevan Cellar's wines, this year's extensive portfolio was one of the revelations of my tastings. A small artisanal operation in Santa Rosa, run by Russell Bevan and his parter, Victoria De Crescenzo, Bevan Cellars has assembled a stunning line-up of wines. I think the tasting notes say it all, but I can't recommend this up-and-coming producer's wines highly enough." Wine Spectator’s James Laube has said that the Bevan’s wines are: “extraordinary, gorgeous, stunning, pure and focused.” “Our focus has always been that wines are made in the vineyard first,” explains Susan Boswell “and as no single bottling of ours is more than a few hundred cases, having Russell on board with his ability to create wines which bring out the best possible characteristics of each vineyard source is something we are really excited about to say nothing of the fact that we are looking forward to enjoying the whole process; Russell has a terrific personality.”

Boswell Lot Raises $85,000 For Auciton Napa Valley

The Deep South Meets High Fashion lot sponsored by Chateau Boswell, Jacquelynn, Arietta and Realm Cellars helped kick off the 32nd Auction Napa Valley with a winning bid of $85,000.

We are pleased to be a part of the over $8 Million raised for charity.

To read the full press release please click on the link below:

http://www.auctionnapavalley.org/news-and-media/release-detail.aspx?pressId=3421211

Auction Napa Valley 2012: Deep South Meets High Fashion

Chateau Boswell, Arietta and Realm Cellars:
Deep South Meets High-Fashion, 65 Feet Underground 

For Tickets or More Information Please Visit: www.auctionnapavalley.org

In celebration of their Southern roots, the belles and gentlemen of Chateau Boswell—Susan Boswell, Jacquelynn and Joshua Peeples, and winemaker Christopher Tynan—invite you to join them, their fellow vintners and their favorite Southern chefs for an evening that highlights each chef’s noted cuisine with each vintner’s finest Napa Valley wines in an amazing venue for an experience that gives new meaning to the term “deep south.”

But before you go “deep south,” think “high fashion,” as the belles of your party will enjoy a “Girlfriends Getaway” package, courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue of San Francisco. The four couples will check into one of San Francisco’s finest hotels for an evening of luxurious accommodations and the girls will then head to Saks Fifth Avenue for a $10,000 private shopping excursion.

The next day, head up to Napa Valley for an evening not to be forgotten. Your experience starts with a two-night stay in luxury accommodations for 4 couples, courtesy of Meadowood Napa Valley. Then it’s time to head to the party, but leave the driving to us and enjoy transportation, courtesy of Magnum Tours, to and from the evening’s festivities at Chateau Boswell.
 
Your chefs flown in for the evening will be none other than Charleston Chef Sean Brock of Husk and McCrady’s and noted James Beard 2010 Southeast Chef of the Year, Kevin Rathbun, “Iron Chef” winner and famed Atlanta restaurateur of Rathbun’s and Kevin Rathbun’s Steak; Ashley Christensen, James Beard finalist, philanthropist, and noted Raleigh restaurateur of Poole’s Diner and Beasley’s Chicken and Honey; and Lee Richardson, a Food and Wine Best Chef of 2011 from Ashley’s of Little Rock. Wow!

We’ll begin with a reception in the dome room of the Chateau Boswell caves where you will join Susan, Jacquelynn and Joshua, as well as Arietta owners Fritz and Caren Hatton, and winemaker Andy Erickson; Realm Cellars owners Wendell and Claire-Marie Laidley and Juan Mercado, and winemaker Benoit Touquette.

Journey down deep into the cave for a dinner 65 feet below the earth, where natural stone walls exhibit the geological strata of 4.5 million years of Napa Valley volcanic history.

You’ll enjoy a feast that celebrates both Napa Valley’s and the South’s deep roots in the history of American wine and food: multiple vintages of fine wines plucked from the depths of each vintner’s cellars, all beautifully paired with a multi-course dinner created by these four celebrated chefs.
 
As a wonderful conclusion to the evening each guest will receive a “Deep Roots” wooden box of five 750ml wines served during the evening, and each couple will take home a gift basket of our favorite items from the South.

In addition, the winning bidder will receive a 3L bottle from each vintner presented in wooden boxes branded with the Auction Napa Valley logo and the grape leaf and magnolia artwork for this auction lot.

Ya’ll come join us now!

Event to be scheduled for a mutually agreeable date, Sunday through Thursday nights, any months except September and October.

Lot Overview

40,750ml bottles of Napa Valley wine

4, 3Liter bottles of Napa Valley wine,

2 nights’ accommodations at Meadowood Napa Valley for 4 couples
1 night’s accommodations in San Francisco for 4 couples
$10,000 Saks gift certificate

Cave Dinner for 8 prepared by 4 of the South’s finest Chefs flown in for the evening
Transportation to/from dinner for 8

Susan Boswell Elected to Napa Valley Vintners Board

The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) non-profit trade association announces its Board of Directors for 2012 who will lead the renowned group in its ongoing work as the essential organization for the promotion, protection and enhancement of the Napa Valley, its wines and its vintners. Heading the Board as President will be Rick Jones of Jones Family Vineyards, Vice-President Russ Weis of Silverado Vineyards, Secretary Janet Viader of Viader Vineyard and Winery and Treasurer Eric Sklar of Alpha Omega. Also serving on the board are; Bruce Cakebread of Cakebread Cellars; Susan Boswell of Chateau Boswell Winery; Kathleen Heitz Myers of Heitz Wine Cellars; Michael Honig of Honig Vineyard and Winery; Pat Stotesbery of Ladera Vineyards; Doug Shafer of Shafer Vineyards; and Bob Torres of Trinchero Napa Valley. "This is a wonderful opportunity to work more fully with this outstanding trade association," said Jones. "It has been an honor serve on the board and with so many important initiatives coming to fruition, I think all of the board members are excited with the opportunities before us in 2012." Jones founded his winery in 1996 as a family run partnership and continues an active role in its operation serving as CEO. Jones has served on and led numerous NVV committees and endeavors including Community and Industry Issues Committee and Auction Napa Valley Grants Review Committee. He is highly involved with the Napa Valley community serving on the boards of the St. Helena Hospital, the Napa Valley Community Foundation, as well as Napa Learns and the national organization, Raising a Reader. The NVV Board also serves as the Board of Directors for Auction Napa Valley along with community board members including Clay Gregory of the Napa Valley Destination Council; Ed Matovcik of Intervine, Inc.; Dave Meyers, retired of Dickensen, Peatman and Fogarty law; and Rachel Wyckoff of Monticello Group. About the NVV The Napa Valley Vintners is the non-profit trade association responsible for promoting and protecting the Napa Valley appellation as the premier winegrowing region. From seven founding members in 1944, today the association represents more than 420 Napa Valley wineries and collectively is a leader in the world-wide wine industry. To learn more about our region and its legendary American wines, visit www.napavintners.com.