100 Point 2016 DANA Estates LOTUS!
"It’s one of the greatest young Cabernets I’ve ever tasted"
- Jeb Dunnuck on 100 Point Dana Lotus 2016
Dana Estates - "The Spirit of Generosity"
"Proprietor Hi Sang Lee has spared no expense at Dana Estates, and it shows. These are fabulous wines that stand apart for their superb elegance and class. There are three Cabernets. The Helms Vineyard is located in Rutherford, Hershey Vineyard is on Howell Mountain and the Lotus Vineyard is in St. Helena. Cameron Vawter and Philippe Melka are responsible for the winemaking." AG Dec 2011
Philippe Melka - Dana Estates Consulting Wine Guru
Philippe Melka is most famous for his work in Napa but also some familiar Producers in France.
Hundred Acre: Melka has been the winemaker for Hundred Acre
Dana Estates: He has worked as the consulting winemaker for Dana Estates
Bryant Family Vineyard: He has worked as a winemaker and consultant for Bryant Family Vineyard, overlapping with Helen Turley!
Château Haut-Brion: Melka has worked as a consultant for Château Haut-Brion
Château Petrus: He has also worked as a consultant for Château Petrus
Château Montrose: Melka has been involved as a consultant at Château Montrose
Collect the 100 Pointers and drink the "Super Second Cult", Onda!
Shop Dana Estates Now!
Critical Acclaim:
"With more minerality as well as a bloody, iron character, the perfect 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Lotus Vineyard is 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot that saw 27 months in new French oak barrels. Incredible notes of blackcurrants, graphite, tobacco, Asian spices, and dried herbs all emerge from this full-bodied, ultra-pure, layered, and just incredible wine that tops out my scale. Coming from a vineyard at the base of Howell Mountain and aged in 90% new French oak, it has the class to offer pleasure even today yet is going to benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age and keep for 3-4 decades. It’s one of the greatest young Cabernets I’ve ever tasted." JD Jan 2020
Jeb Dunnuck ~ 100 Points
"The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Lotus Vineyard is a total stunner. What a wine. Rich, sumptuous and enveloping, the 2019 makes a strong first impression and never lets up. There's tremendous density and power, but tons of layers and overall vibrancy that lend balance. Plum, mocha, licorice, espresso and a kick of new French oak build into the huge, sumptuous finish. As always, the Lotus has a bit more overt oak influence than the other wines, but it works well here." AG for VM Jan 2022
Antonio Galloni ~ 100 Points
Critical Acclaim for 2012 & 2013
"The extraordinary quality produced by Korean owner Hi Sang Lee at Dana Estates has been well chronicled in this journal over recent vintages. The winery continues to fine-tune a brilliant quartet of Cabernet Sauvignons that have hallmarks including purity, exceptional balance, intensity and overall complexity and aging potential. Probably the greatest vintage I’ve tasted in the last 37 years there – 2013 – and that came after another great year, 2012." Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The Onda
"Onda" is the Spanish word for "wave." The inspiration behind the name comes from the unique location of Dana Estates, which is situated at the base of the Vaca Mountains in Napa Valley. The name "Onda" symbolizes the dynamic energy and beauty of the land.
Robert Parker describes, "Cabernet Sauvignon Onda, which is essentially their second wine culled from the top lots of Lotus, Hershey, Helms and Crystal Springs. It’s medium to full-bodied, silky smooth and clearly meant to be the wine that most consumers would want to drink earlier than the more saturated and denser single-vineyard wines." Highly rated second wine! Maybe we need to coin the phrase "Super Second Cult"!