2014 · Kingly Project

The Grade Cellars is an estate-focused Napa Valley producer founded by Thomas Winfield Thornton and Brenda Joyce Mixson after purchasing its Calistoga property in 1997. Winfield Vineyard, replanted in 2000, comprises distinct Cabernet Sauvignon blocks on a sloping bench above the valley floor, with volcanic soils and warm days moderated by cool nights. The estate has supplied fruit since the inaugural 2004 vintage, and farming is described as sustainable and fish-friendly. Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown leads a portfolio centered on single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, using natural processes without enzymes, flavor or color enhancements, reverse osmosis, or spinning cones. Careful tannin management produces plush, opulent, approachable wines with integrated oak and textural harmony. The wines’ names and the property’s identity are inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s connections to Calistoga and the surrounding valley.