Snowden Vineyards
Merlot Lost Vineyard – 2022
Region: CALIFORNIA - NAPA VALLEY
Snowden Vineyards
Since 1955, the Snowdens have farmed their vineyard high above the Napa Valley. In addition to the stunning views of St. Helena, Rutherford and the San Francisco Bay, the estate offers four separate sites producing remarkably complex and individualistic wines. Winemaking duties are in the capable hands of Diana Snowden Seysses. The winery produces Bordeaux blends from their estate vineyards and a small amount of Sauvignon Blanc from a small parcel they call the Lost Vineyard.
The Wine
Vineyard Profile
Lost Vineyard is a 1.7 acre plot of the estate on the eastern ridge o fthe Vaca Mountains, Napa Valley.
- Altitude: 800 feet
- Soil: Perlite and sand
- Vineyard Planted: 1994
Harvest Notes
- 2022 growing season began with ample groundwater, followed by textbook weather
- Budbreak 3rd week of March, flowering in May with high temperatures
- End August brought high heat wave, with attendant minute monitoring and precise hand pick window on September 1, 2022
- Some fruit harvested before heatwave in traditional variety and winery style
- Very little pumpover or punchdown activity
- Fermented using only native yeast in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks
- Malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels
- Aged 7 months in barrel
- Bottled unfined on May 4, 2024
Winemaker's Notes
This wine has a gorgeous bouquet which jumps out of the glass. Aromas of pomegranate and black plums invite a sip. The wine is juicy and plush with supple tannins and a clean finish. A lovely, balanced and pure Merlot – expressed as an embodiment of joy and hedonism.
Wine Summary
97% Merlot, 3% Grenache; alcohol: 14%; 1.7 acre estate Lost Vineyard block in eastern hills of Napa Valley; altitiude 800 feet; perlite and sand soil; hand harvested; fermented using only native wild yeasts; malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels; aged 7 months in barrel; bottled unfined May 4, 2024.
Technical Information
- 97% Merlot, 3% Grenache
- Alcohol: 14%
- Merlot Clone: 181
Reviews
91 Points
The nose is savory and herbaceous, with aromas of Damson plums, dried herbs and cedar. The palate is full-bodied with fine tannins and bright acidity, showing notes of blackberries, tobacco leaves and marzipan. Balanced and fresh. Drink or hold.
jamessuckling.com, November, 2024
90 Points
The bargain-priced 2022 Merlot Lost Vineyard features scents of black tea, black cherries and a hint of almond paste. Aged in 30% new French oak and blended with a splash of Grenache (3%), it’s medium to full-bodied, soft, supple, round and generous. It’s a fun, easy-drinking wine, with soft tannins barely registering on the mocha-tinged finish. No, it’s not a big powerhouse but something rather elegant. 2025 – 2032
© Wine Advocate, February, 2025
93 Points
The 2022 Merlot “Lost Vineyard” bottling from Snowden Vineyards comes in at an even fourteen percent octane in this vintage. These vines were planted in 1994, so they were closing in on the thirtieth birthday in 2022. The wine’s aromatic constellation is complex and classy, delivering notes of cassis, cigar smoke, a touch of eucalyptus, coffee bean, dark soil tones, just a hint of tobacco leaf and a deft framing of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, elegant and sports lovely depth of fruit at the core, with a good base of minerality, fine-grained tannins, excellent balance and a long, focused and complex finish. This is very classy merlot, but it will need some time in the cellar to properly blossom. 2032 – 2065
View From The Cellar, May, 2025
16.5 Points
A blend of 97% Merlot and 3% Grenache. Aged for 7 months in 30% new French oak. Organic grapes. 208 cases produced.
Smells of plum, herbs, flowers and cedar. Bright flavours of plum and plum skin show cola and dried-herb notes. Bitterness from chopped green herbs emerges in the finish as fleecy tannins add weight and texture. Excellent acidity. Leaning towards the savoury. 2026 – 2040
JancisRobinson.com, March, 2026
General Info
| Country | USA |
| Region | Napa Valley |
| Appellation(s) | Napa Valley |
| Proprietors | Scott and Joann Snowden and Randy and Janet Snowden, managing directors of Snowden Vineyards |
| Founded | 1955 |
| Winemaker | Diana Snowden-Seysses |
| Annual Production | 2,900 9L cases |
| Farming (Sustainable, organic, biodynamic) | Sustainable (including no chemical herbicides used in vineyards) |