Parable Beckstoffer Bourn Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena 2021

A parable, in its truest sense, is a quiet guide—an elegant narrative that uses metaphor to illuminate something deeper about our shared human experience. It invites reflection, rewards patience, and reveals truth one layer at a time. This philosophy pulses at the heart of Parable, the Eppright family’s deeply personal venture into Napa Valley winegrowing.

Fred Eppright built his life and career from humble origins, ultimately achieving success in commercial real estate. But it was the encouragement of his son Trey, an avid collector and student of Napa Valley wines, that sparked the family’s next chapter. Together with Fred’s younger son Matt, the Epprights followed their curiosity straight to Calistoga, where Trey eventually relocated and uncovered a historic winery estate that felt destined for revival. With industry veteran Brian Kelleher guiding the project, Parable launched in 2021 with a singular mission: craft Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon that inspire contemplation, beauty, and connection. Currently, the team is breaking ground on a vineyard and winery in Calistoga, with the ultimate dream of creating a legacy family estate for generations yet to come. But for now, the Epprights have been beyond fortunate to secure contracts with some of Napa's finest vineyards.

Few sites in Napa Valley carry a history as storied as Beckstoffer Bourn Vineyard. First planted in 1857 by William Bowers Bourn II (better known as the last Bonanza King of the Gold Rush), the vineyard is steeped in history, both literal and symbolic. Bourn owned the Empire Mine, the largest and richest gold mine in California at the time, and left his mark across St. Helena, including the creation of Greystone Cellars, now home to the Culinary Institute of America. To honor this golden lineage, Parable adorns this wine with an ancient alchemical symbol for gold—a subtle emblem, and a fitting tribute to both vineyard and visionary.

His family stewarded this land for generations until 2010, when Beckstoffer Vineyards acquired thirteen acres from the original estate. These parcels include old head-trained Petite Sirah and a selection of noble Cabernet Sauvignon clones that form the backbone of Parable’s Bourn Vineyard bottling. It is one of the rare Beckstoffer sites whose identity is defined as much by its historical gravitas as by its viticultural pedigree.

From first sip to lingering finish, the 2021 Bourn Cabernet is a study in luxury and depth. Full-bodied yet composed, it rolls across the palate with velvety tannins and an opulent mouthfeel. Blackcurrant, plum, and boysenberry form the core, while layers of vanilla bean, clove, and warm leather unfold gradually. The finish is long, resonant, and beautifully polished, colored by notes of mocha and fine tobacco. A wine shaped by its history and its site, delivering depth, polish, and the kind of clarity that only great vineyards can give.