Our fullest expression of what Knights Valley, Sonoma can be.
Knights Valley sits in the northeastern corner of Sonoma County, tucked up against the ancient volcanic slopes of Mount Saint Helena, right on the border of Napa. It's a sheltered, inland appellation — protected from the Pacific's cooling influence by the Coastal Ranges and the Mayacamas Mountains — making it the warmest AVA in all of Sonoma County. But warmth alone doesn't tell the whole story. What truly defines Knights Valley is its dramatic diurnal shift — hot days followed by cool mountain nights — giving the grapes that rare combination of bold, ripe fruit alongside pronounced acidity, structure, and lingering freshness.
Our vineyard was planted in 1989, making these vines now over thirty-five years old. They sit at fourteen hundred feet above the valley floor, where the elevation intensifies every aspect of the growing season — concentration, complexity, and depth of flavor. The soils here are volcanic and iron-rich, well-drained with moderate fertility, naturally stressing the vines to produce lower yields and more concentrated fruit. These are vines that have had decades to push their roots deep into that volcanic earth, and you can taste that history in every sip.
The 2024 Definition is a Bordeaux-style blend: fifty-five percent Cabernet Sauvignon, thirty-one percent Merlot, eleven percent Cabernet Franc, and three percent Petit Verdot. Every grape was hand-harvested at night — when the cool air preserves the fruit's natural aromatics and acidity — and sorted not once, not twice, but three times to ensure only the finest clusters made it into this wine.
After fermentation, the wine went through complete malolactic fermentation — softening the acidity and adding a layer of creamy, lush texture — then aged for eighteen months in one hundred percent new French oak barrels. New French oak at this level of use brings structure and spice without overwhelming the fruit; it integrates slowly, building complexity over time and lending the wine its signature depth and polish. In the glass, the Definition is dark ruby red in color, the nose opens with dark cherry, blackcurrant, and ripe plum, and black olive with a lifted note of violet and dried herbs. The Cabernet Sauvignon anchors the wine with firm, elegant tannins and a dark fruit core, while the Merlot softens and rounds the mid-palate. The Cabernet Franc adds a beautiful aromatic lift — a hint of graphite, dried rose petal, and fresh earth. And that three percent Petit Verdot? It's the finishing touch — adding depth of color, a note of dark spice, and a long, structured finish that lingers beautifully.
This is a wine built to age — but it's drinking exceptionally well right now!
