Today marked the opening of Premiere Napa Valley, and with it, our first collective glimpse into how the 2024 vintage is beginning to express itself in the glass. Tasting through special lots across a wide range of producers is always one of the most intellectually energizing moments of the year. It’s not simply about identifying standouts — it’s about reading early signals: structure, balance, ripeness, restraint, and intent.From the very first pours, 2024 announced itself as a vintage defined by control and clarity.
Tannin management and freshness are not secondary themes — they are the structural backbone. While ripeness is present, it is measured rather than exuberant, supported by striking precision in extraction and seamlessly integrated oak.
The impression is not of power for its own sake, but of intentionality — a classic growing season translated into wines shaped as much by restraint as by concentration.
Pine Ridge Vineyards Wappo Hill Reserve 2024: Length and Poise
One of the early standouts came from Pine Ridge. The lot showed remarkable length, depth, and layered complexity, yet it carried itself with elegance rather than weight.
The tannins were ripe and structured, but beautifully integrated, suggesting careful harvest timing and restrained extraction. It was a wine that unfolded gradually across the palate — a promising sign for a vintage still in its infancy.
Schramsberg’s 1995 J. Schram: A Lesson in Aging Sparkling Wine
Each year, Schramsberg commands attention, and this year was no exception with the late-disgorged 1995 J. Schram — nearly 30 years old. The wine, Chardonnay-driven in its blend, is a compelling reminder that Napa Valley sparkling wines deserve a place in serious aging conversations.
The texture was creamy, supported by a lower dosage that allowed the acidity and to shine. Fresh fruit still lingers — tart apple and baked apple notes — intertwined with tertiary layers of caramel and gentle smokiness. The finish is lively, elegant, and lifted by vibrant acidity.
The wine carries freshness and salinity that many do not associate with extended aging. It opens an important dialogue: Napa sparkling wines are not merely celebratory — they are cellar-worthy says Hugh Davies President and CEO of Schramsberg.
St. Supéry & Ghost Block: Mid-Palate Focus
The 2024 St. Supéry blended Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot into it's Cabernet Sauvignon which stood out for how it “plumped” the center of the palate — generous but controlled. Meanwhile, Ghost Block 2022 showed plush, round tannins balanced by fresh acidity, reinforcing that 2022 continues to show structure with brightness.
Chimney Rock Tomahawk Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon 2024
The Tomahawk Unfiltered lot from Chimney Rock offered a fascinating look at clonal and rootstock expression: Clone 169 on 3309 rootstock, sourced from the east side, showed a softer, plusher profile. The wine was generous without heaviness — an example of site and clonal selection shaping texture as much as flavor.
Women Winemakers Lot: Precision and Finesse
The Women Winemakers lot, Cabernet Sauvignon that included amongst many Chimney Rock, Ganymede Vineyard in Stags Leap District, was polished and poised. Rounder in shape with refined tannins, it carried finesse and clarity rather than sheer power — a stylistic throughline that seems to be emerging this year.
Fourteen trailblazing women winemakers came together, each contributing a favorite lot to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Abigail Estrada, Ashley Hepworth, Bridget Raymond, Chelsea Barrett, Elizabeth Vianna, Jennifer Rue, Jennifer Williams, Julie Johnson, Julie Robertson, Kim Nicholls, Lindsey Wallingford, Molly Lippitt, Sally Johnson Blum and Sarah Vandendriessche bring their individual voices to this singular blend.
Frog’s Leap Charbono: A Nod to Napa’s Heritage
Although Frog’s Leap’s Charbono lot was not available for tasting on the first day, it remains one of the intellectually compelling offerings at Premier Napa Valley.Charbono is a variety deeply woven into Napa Valley’s early viticultural history. Originally brought to California in the late 19th century and long confused with Bonarda in Argentina, Charbono found one of its few true homes in Napa.
Inglenook famously championed it, and over time only a handful of producers continued to preserve and replant it. Frog’s Leap has been one of the modern stewards keeping this heritage variety alive.The grape thrives in Napa’s warmer sites yet retains notable acidity and savory depth. Structurally, Charbono offers firm tannins and dark fruit layered with earthy, sometimes iron-like notes — a profile that feels both old-world in character and distinctly Napa in intensity.
Its presence at Premier Napa Valley is a reminder that the region’s identity is broader than Cabernet Sauvignon alone. Charbono speaks to Napa’s agricultural roots, its immigrant history, and the growers who believed in preserving something unique rather than simply following market demand. In many ways, that spirit of stewardship defines Napa as much as its most celebrated wines.
A Vintage Taking Shape
If today is any indication, 2024 may be remembered less for opulence and more for balance. The wines show firm but managed tannins, focused mid-palates, and an emerging thread of freshness. It is still early — barrel samples evolve — but the intention is clear: structure without excess, ripeness without heaviness, and oak that frames rather than dominates.
Premier Napa Valley always offers a first chapter, not the full story. But today’s tastings suggest that 2024 is shaping into a vintage defined by precision, thoughtful viticulture, and a continued commitment to refining Napa Valley’s signature style.More impressions will certainly follow — but for now, the conversation has begun.