This copper-colored wine was made from mostly Rhône-style grapes and has earthy meaty aromas and flavors, a light to medium body and a texture that's rich and smooth. This is not a crisp fruity version, but a more savory complex one that can fill in for a red.\n \n Producer Information\n Hess Persson Estates is a Californian wine producer best known for Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines. It comprises two brands; The Hess Collection, based on Mount Veeder, and the Lions Head Collection. The Hess Collection winery was founded in 1978 by Donald Hess in Mount Veeder, on the site of one of the Napa Valley's oldest wineries. The first wines under the Hess label were released in 1982. Making Hess one of the pioneers in the Valley in terms of making wine at higher elevations. The Hess Persson Estates name acknowledges the current generation, Donald's daughter Sabrina and son-in-law Tim Persson, and the introduction of the Lions Head Collection. The Mount Veeder property is also home to the renowned Hess Collection Contemporary Art Museum. Donald Hess' original purchase of 365 hectares (901 acres) of land in Mount Veeder allocated more than 240ha to remain undeveloped in support of local wildlife. In 2008, it was one of the first 10 wineries to receive a Napa Green certification and, in 2010, it was one of the first 17 wineries to be certified by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. After a number of seasons dealing with fires and mudslides, the now-Hess Persson winery was severely damaged during the 2014 Napa Earthquake, with many tanks crushed. This did at least lead to a subsequent program of renovations and upgrades. The visitor center and art museum reopened in 2015. The modernized facilty features an optical sorter which can identify and reject imperfect fruit based on color, size and weight. Small-lot double-insulated fermentation tanks can be precisely controlled via phones or tablets.
