Arrow and Branch Wines: Discover Napa Valley’s Finest Boutique Winery and Exclusive Tastings
If you’re a wine enthusiast always on the lookout for new, exciting wines to add to your collection, you’d be remiss not to check out Arrow and Branch wines. Produced in Napa Valley, this winery represents a blend of history and innovation. With a philosophy of emphasizing the diversity of the land and the grapes, Arrow and Branch wines deliver delicious, complex creations that manage to draw from the best of both old and new winemaking techniques. Today, we’re thrilled to introduce this fascinating winery and invite you to discover its unique story and its many outstanding wines.
1. Background of Arrow & Branch Wine Founders
Arrow&Branch Wines was founded by Steve and Seanne Contursi, who have been avid Bordeaux wine collectors since the 1980s. Originally from New York City, Steve became fascinated with coins as a young boy, eventually turning his passion into a career as a numismatist. In 1975, he founded his first coin company and today owns Arrow&Branch Coins Rare Coin Wholesalers and RCW Financial. Steve has overseen over 2 billion USD in coin sales and currently has the largest inventory of U.S. rare coins in the world. The name Arrow&Branch pays homage to coins minted in the USA and represents the symbol on the back of many US minted coins with an eagle holding both an olive branch and arrows in its talons. In 2007, the couple purchased a small property in Coombsville that was already planted with Cabernet Franc and hired winemaker Helen Keplinger to make their first vintage in 2008. The wines are sourced from unique and exquisite vineyard sites such as Beckstoffer Dr. Crane, Arrow Branch, and Stagecoach. The focus is on producing premium red wines but they also produce a Sauvignon Blanc each year. [1][2]
2. Vineyard Sourcing and Terroir
Arrow&Branch wines are known for sourcing their fruit from exceptional vineyard sites in the Napa Valley. The founders, Steve and Seanne Contursi, were drawn to Napa Valley for its premium Bordeaux style wines. To ensure their wines showcase the best of Napa’s terroir, they source their grapes from unique and exquisite vineyard sites. These vineyards, including Vine Hill Ranch, Beckstoffer Dr. Crane, Arrow Branch, and Beckstoffer To Kalon Stagecoach, are all noted for having exceptional terroir. This careful selection of vineyards allows Arrow&Branch to make wines with precision, power, and elegance.
In addition to these vineyards, Arrow&Branch recently acquired a new vineyard, Liberty, located in the Oak Knoll AVA. This vineyard is known for its distinct terroir and adds even more diversity to Arrow&Branch’s selection of vineyard sources. At Arrow&Branch, the focus is on making wines that are true to the vineyards they come from. By carefully selecting their vineyard sources, they are able to showcase the unique terroir of each site through their wines. This commitment to vineyard sourcing and terroir is what makes Arrow&Branch’s wines some of the best in Napa Valley. [3][4]
3. Precision, Power, and Elegance of Arrow & Branch Wines
Arrow & Branch Wines are known for their precision, power, and elegance. The vineyard sources the best fruit from unique and exquisite sites in Napa Valley, such as Vine Hill Ranch, Beckstoffer Dr. Crane, and Arrow Branch’s newest vineyard, Liberty. These vineyards are selected for their exceptional Napa Valley terroir, in order to create wines that are true to the vineyards they come from. The focus is on producing premium red wines, but they also make a Sauvignon Blanc that is fresh and vibrant with the perfect balance of acidity and fruit. All of their wines spend considerable time in oak and bottle before they are released, resulting in a seamless wine throughout from the bouquet onto the palate.
Arrow & Branch Wines are the brainchild of Steve and Seanne Contursi. Steve, a professional numismatist and founder of Arrow&Branch Coins, Rare Coin Wholesalers, and RCW Financial, shares his passion for coins through the vineyard’s name, which is a tribute to coins minted in the USA. Together with Helen Keplinger, their first winemaker, they produced their first vintage in 2008, which was released in 2009. Later, experienced winemaker Jennifer Williams took over as winemaker in 2011. Williams is known for her vineyard expertise and vineyard contacts, which have certainly been helpful for securing additional premium vineyard sources beyond Arrow&Branch’s own estate vineyards.
Arrow & Branch Wines’ Cabernet Sauvignon “Black Label” is sourced from the historic Lewelling Vineyard in St. Helena and Stagecoach Vineyard, which they have worked with since their earliest vintages. This wine spends up to 22 months in oak and another year in bottle before being released, resulting in a wine that is both ample and elegant. The bouquet is elegant with aromas of currant, red cherry, cinnamon, and toasted cedar. Its dusty tannins anchor a long and satisfying finish. With their precision, power, and elegance, Arrow&Branch Wines showcase Napa Valley’s finest vineyard sites and the wines that come from them. [5][6]
4. The Significance of the Name Arrow & Branch
Arrow & Branch Wines takes its name from its founders’ passion for numismatics, the study of coins. Steve Contursi, one of the proprietors, has been interested in coins since he was a young boy growing up in the Bronx. He became a professional numismatist in 1975, founding his first coin company. Today, he manages Arrow&Branch Coins Rare Coin Wholesalers and RCW Financial, which has overseen over 2 billion USD in coin sales. The name Arrow & Branch is a tribute to coins minted in the USA, as many of them feature an eagle holding both an olive branch and arrows in its talons. It also pays homage to Americana.
5. Founding Winemaker Helen Keplinger and Successor Jennifer Williams
Arrow and Branch Winery was founded by Steve and Seanne Contursi in 2007, who purchased a small property in Coombsville, Napa Valley. The property was originally the residence of Tony Soter, founder of Etude Winery, and was already planted with three acres of Cabernet Franc. Additional Cabernet Franc was planted, and Helen Keplinger was hired as the winemaker for the first vintage in 2008. Keplinger later left to become the winemaker at Bryant Family and suggested Jennifer Williams as her successor, who has been the winemaker since the 2011 vintage. Williams was previously the winemaker at Spottswoode Estate Vineyard and Winery and has extensive vineyard contacts that helped secure additional premium vineyard sources beyond Arrow&Branch’s estate vineyards.
Jennifer Williams focuses on producing premium red wines but also produces a Sauvignon Blanc. The 2014 Arrow&Branch Sauvignon Blanc has lemon and lime nuances in the bouquet and subtle tropical undertones. On the palate, the wine is fresh and vibrant, with the perfect balance of acidity and fruit. The 2012 Arrow&Branch Cabernet Sauvignon “Black Label” was sourced equally from the historic Lewelling Vineyard in St. Helena and Stagecoach Vineyard. The wine often spends between 20 and 22 months in oak and another year in bottle before release. The 2012 Arrow&Branch “Red Wine” is a Bordeaux style blend. The bouquet has aromas of currant, red cherry, cinnamon, and toasted cedar. The wine also has ample, dusty tannins anchoring a long and satisfying finish.
With Helen Keplinger and Jennifer Williams as winemakers, Arrow & Branch Winery continues to produce premium wines from Coombsville. While Keplinger was instrumental in hiring Williams, she also encouraged Steve and Seanne Contursi to focus on the importance of vineyard sources and helped refine the winemaking approach. Williams has now continued and built upon the foundation set by Keplinger to source the best grapes to make premium wines. Her understanding of vineyards and cultivation techniques ensures that Arrow & Branch Wines will continue to be a high-quality option for wine lovers.
6. Arrow & Branch Sauvignon Blanc: A Seamless Wine
Arrow and Branch Wines is a family-owned business in Napa Valley that is highly devoted to producing premium red wines. They have been growing Cabernet Franc since 1991 on their two-acre estate vineyard in Coombsville. Arrow & Branch Sauvignon Blanc has caught the attention of many wine critics and enthusiasts. This 2022 vintage has an energetic nature that jumps out of the glass, giving off aromas of jasmine wisteria and honeycomb. With a slightly saline flavor, this wine has an abundance of green apple, white peach, and citrus notes of oranges and lemons that run from nose to palate, giving it a clean, fresh and vibrant taste. It is easy to drink and possesses a compelling flavor that is sure to leave you wanting more.
7. Arrow & Branch Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label
Arrow & Branch Wines is garnering attention from wine enthusiasts with their impressive range of premium red wines. The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label is a standout example, with a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot aged for 22 months in 70% new French oak. Wine critic Jeb Dunnuck awarded this vintage 98 points, praising its ultra-fine tannins, flawless balance, and great finish. The fruit for this wine comes from top vineyards including Lewelling, Stagecoach, and Dr. Crane. Winemaker Jennifer Williams has established a reputation for crafting powerful, elegant Napa Cabernets, and the Black Label is a testament to her skill.
8. Aging Process for Arrow & Branch Red Wines
Arrow & Branch is a Napa Valley winery that has quickly made a name for itself with its exceptional red wines. One of the things that sets its wines apart is the aging process. Their red wines are aged for a total of 22 months, a process that allows the flavors and tannins to fully integrate.
During the first 10 months of aging, the wines are aged in French oak barrels that are 70% new. This imparts a subtle oak flavor that complements the rich fruit flavors of the wine. The remaining 12 months of aging take place in the bottle. This is known as bottle aging and is an important step in the maturation process.
Bottle aging allows the wine to develop more complexity and depth of flavor. It also allows the tannins to soften, making the wine smoother and more enjoyable to drink. One of the benefits of aging wine in the bottle is that it allows for a slow and controlled maturation process. This results in a more balanced and harmonious wine.
Arrow & Branch red wines are known for their power, elegance, and complexity. The aging process plays a critical role in achieving these characteristics. By carefully aging their wines, Arrow & Branch creates wines that are both drinkable now and will continue to evolve and improve with age.
9. Tasting Notes for Arrow & Branch Wines
Arrow & Branch wines, known for their premium winemaking, offer a 2022 Sauvignon Blanc that is deeply aromatic and bursting with flavors. Its notes of jasmine wisteria and warm honeycomb are complemented by the mountainful green apple and white peach flavors. The citrus notes that run from the nose to the palate make it clean, fresh, and vibrant. It is a compelling wine that is easy to drink and tasty.
The 2019 Cabernet Franc Heritage is a medium to full-bodied wine that displays a brilliant purple hue. Its notes of red and black fruits, wildflowers, damp earth, forest floor, and iron make it a textbook Cabernet Franc. It has terrific purity, impeccable balance, ripe tannins, and the class to evolve positively for 2-4 years. It is a delightfully fresh and bright Cabernet Franc wine with blueberry, lemon rind, and crushed stone.
Williams’ take on a St. Emilion from Napa, the 2019 Right Bank Blend Red wine, has nuances of smoked red and black fruits, chocolate, exotic flowers, and graphite. It hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, ultra-fine silky tannins, and perfectly balanced flavors. It is an awesome Cabernet Franc wine from the Valley, well worth seeking out.
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label, a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot, has ultra-fine tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. Its classic tobacco leaf, lead pencil, and chocolatey nuances make it a powerful, elegant, and incredibly impressive style of Napa Cabernet wine. The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard has beautiful balance, perfectly integrated fruit, tannins, and acidity, and intense yet elegant flavors.
The star of the show is undoubtedly the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard, incorporating 1% Petit Verdot and aged for 22 months in 95% new French oak. It is a deep, full-bodied, powerful Cabernet that has classic Dr. Crane notes of gravelly earth, cold fireplace, tobacco, truffle, and assorted black and blue fruits. It is a rich, opulent, yet pure and precise Cabernet wine that will benefit from a few years of bottle age and keep for years to come.
10. Bordeaux-Inspired Red Wine Collection by Arrow & Branch
Arrow & Branch Wines has a collection of Bordeaux-inspired red wines that have garnered attention for their precision, power, and elegance. The Napa Valley winery was founded by Steve and Seanne Contursi, who have a passion for both Bordeaux wines and rare coins. Their property, located in the Coombsville region of Napa Valley, was originally the former residence of acclaimed winemaker Tony Soter and is planted with Cabernet Franc. The winery sources fruit from some of Napa Valley’s finest vineyards, including Vine Hill Ranch, Beckstoffer Dr. Crane, Arrow & Branch, Beckstoffer To Kalon, Stagecoach, and their newest addition, Liberty. The vineyards are noted for having exceptional terroir.
