The Crane Assembly 2021 El Coco Proprietary Red, Napa Valley

95 Points                                             
Limited new Cabernet from Dave Phinney's new winery The Crane Assembly - limited. Only 350 cases produced.

95 Points Robert Parker: "A blend of 62% Zinfandeland  32% Petite, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored G.B. Crane Vineyard el Coco sings of dried plums, cherry cordial and Christmas pudding with nuances of potpourri, Ceylon tea, roses and Chinese five spice. Wow—the palate is super concentrated with voluptuous fruit and a plush frame plus plenty of freshness, finishing very long. 880 cases produced...

...The winemaker behind these magnificent wines is Dave Phinney, working from the Dr. George Beldon Crane Vineyard, which was first planted as a site in 1885. At that time it was largely a blend of grapes often referred to as “mixed blacks.” There are now eight acres in production, four containing the original plantings and the rest planted from 1930 onward. Phinney and a group of his friends purchased the vineyard in 2012. These notes reflect what they’re doing to date and serious consumers should be thrilled."

From the new winery The Crane Assembly has quite a back story.  In August of 2012, four friends (Dave Phinney, Darryl Browman, Kevin A. Fox and Bryan D. Sandoli) stood in the middle of a block of hundred year old Zinfandel. The vineyard was planted by George Beldon Crane in the late nineteenth century and is one of the icons of the Napa Valley. Hours earlier they had signed the paperwork to buy the vineyard and it was just in the nick of time...they picked the grapes the next morning.  Since that first year wines were made from our G.B. Crane Vineyard under the el Coco label and the GB Crane label.