California's first producer to earn 100 Parker points
Located in the center of Napa Valley, which stretches 50km north and south, Oakville is one of Napa Valley's most prestigious AVAs. This region, where the heat of the north harmonizes with the cool sea breeze from the south, is a famous region for producing high-quality cabernet, and Napa cabernet superstars such as Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Harlan Estate, and Screaming Eagle are here to stay. They are crowded together like that. It was in 1981 that Napa Cabernet enthusiasts Dennis and Judy Gross purchased a farm in the heart of Oakville as a ``life-changing investment.'' The following year, in 1982, he established the winery "Gross". Their hunch that they believed that great wine could be made in this area was quickly proven to be correct. Robert Parker awarded Gross's 1985 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve the first California wine to receive a 100-point rating. This was a great achievement just three years after the winery was established. Even after that, the rapid advance did not stop. In The Top 100 Wines, published annually by Wine Spectator magazine, the flagship Reserve has been selected six times since 1990 (1990, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000), and in 1996, Robert Mondavi and He beat out great competitors such as Silver Oak and Shafer and took second place. Dennis says the secret to this success is ``the wonderful terroir of the vineyard and our generous efforts.''
A privileged terroir for elegant style
The ``superiority of a field's terroir,'' as he calls it, lies in its good drainage. The soil in Oakville is large: the western part is home to the Mayacamas Mountains (well-drained alluvial soil), the eastern part is home to the Vaca Mountains (mineral-rich volcanic soil), and the valley area between the two mountains is mostly heavy soil. (more fertile loam soil). Gros's fields are located in a valley, but only a small area has stony soil with good drainage. This plot, which the owners of neighboring wineries Bevan Cellars and Tor Wines refer to as a ``miracle plot,'' is the field of Gross Reserve. As a result, even though Tokoyabe is a region that tends to produce heavy wines, Gross's wines have ripe, rich fruit flavors, as well as lightness and elegance in a positive sense. In addition, in order to make the most of this blessed terroir, we manage all of our 67ha of fields using sustainable farming methods, and in 2014 we received Napa Green certification. They harness the power of nature by not using herbicides and by using cover crops to increase the water retention of the soil and reduce irrigation. Furthermore, by installing nest boxes for owls and perches for eagles and hawks in the fields, we are preventing gophers and other pests that could harm the fields. In addition, in order to make the most of this blessed terroir, we manage all of our 67ha of fields using sustainable farming methods, and in 2014 we received Napa Green certification. They harness the power of nature by not using herbicides and by using cover crops to increase the water retention of the soil and reduce irrigation. Furthermore, by installing nest boxes for owls and perches for eagles and hawks in the fields, we are preventing gophers and other pests that could harm the fields. We spare no effort in harvesting and brewing to produce the highest quality wine. Grapes are harvested at night, and for Cabernet, the grapes undergo rigorous sorting three times: in the field, upon arrival at the winery, and again after destemming. In this way, only the best grapes go to vinification, resulting in rich, full-bodied red wines with delicacy and finesse that have the potential for long-term aging. For white wines, both Sauvignon and Chardonnay do not undergo malolactic fermentation, resulting in a finish that allows you to feel the freshness of the fruit.
