Lúnasa Poston Crest Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga 2018

Jordan Jeffries is one of many winemakers to note that their passion for winemaking stems from a love of the outdoors. A specific kinship with nature goes hand-in-hand with crafting fine wines, as we can all attest that making great wine starts in the vineyards. Jordan’s childhood on his family’s golf course in Oregon nurtured his affinity for fresh air and sunshine. While Jordan was grooming fairways and exploring the roughs in Oregon, the Poston family was settling into retirement on their 20-acre property in Calistoga. Quite quickly, Dr. Marvin Poston witnessed the potential in his land and drew up plans to plant a vineyard, making the start of his golden years anything from tranquil. It wouldn’t be until decades later that their family’s paths would intersect.

As Jordan’s interest in agriculture grew, he began working in vineyards near his hometown. The vines were about as close as he could come to winemaking, seeing as he was a ripe 17 years old. So, he enrolled at UC Davis to study Viticulture and Enology and, upon graduation, moved to Napa to pursue a career. His Napa resume included stints at Duckhorn Vineyards, Merry Edwards, Tamber Bey, and Davis Estates before taking his current position as Director of Winemaking at Brasswood Estate and their custom crush facility. However, he kept a keen eye open for a property to call his own one day, and in 2017, Poston Crest Vineyard became just that.

Marvin and Arelene Poston planted 8.5 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon vines on this old ranch land in 1982 after purchasing the property as a serene and pastoral place to retire. The couple knew little about grape growing, as Dr. Poston made his name as an Optometrist in the Bay Area and through his community service to underserved areas in need of vision care. However, Marvin became the first African American to plant a vineyard in Napa Valley. They meticulously stewarded the vineyard through their retirement years and handed it over to their daughter Marlene in their passing. Marlene sold Poston Crest Vineyard to the Jeffries’ in 2017 but shortly after, the devastating wildfires threatened the property. In this challenging time, Marlene and her husband opened their private home to Jordan and Ciji as a refuge, and their friendship quickly transformed into a familial bond. 
This bond is emblemized on the Lúnasa label with the line drawing of the ancient tradition of a “Farmer’s Knot” of wheat. For centuries, lovers have shared woven bracelets of wheat to celebrate the start of harvest and make the promise to honor their union and return at harvest’s end. A farmer and their family know all too well the sacrifices of time and connection inherent with harvest time, as well as the joy and pride in the bounty of crops. Jordan’s winemaking reflects his commitment to the history and terroir of Poston Crest Vineyard. He says, “the wine should reflect the terroir from where it is grown…allowing for a minimalist approach, not to take away from the ecosystem where the fruit is grown.”

In 2018, Lúnasa debuted their Poston Crest Vineyard 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The hand-harvested grapes fermented for over a month, undergoing punch-downs and pump-overs to add depth of flavor and intensify the color and tannins. The wine aged in a mix of new and neutral French oak barrels for over two years. Spicy cranberry sauce and ripe red plum aromas linger with hints of purple florals and baking spice—smooth tannins round the palate of tart raspberry jam and black cardamom flavors. Less than 300 cases of this inaugural release were produced by the next generation of Poston Crest Vineyard’s stewards.