At a glance

Producer

Spring Mountain Vineyard

Region

Napa Valley, California, USA

Grape variety

Bordeaux Blend (primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot)

Wine type

Red

Body

Full-bodied and Smooth

Sweetness

Dry

Typical price

$110-$150 USD

Tasting profile

Black currant, plum, dried cherry, graphite, cedar, earthy forest floor, subtle chocolate, polished oak spice.

Evolution: Develops savory nuances—dried herbs, tobacco, evolved leather—while retaining core dark fruit and fresh acidity.

At peak: Dense, harmonious, layered palate showing both fruit purity and bottle-aged tertiary complexity.

Structure

Acidity

Medium to medium-plus

Tannins

Supple, fine-grained, integrated

Alcohol

14.2% ABV (typical for vintage/region)

Aging potential

Moderate to long (best within 18-20 years from vintage under proper cellaring)

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2023 to 2028

Optimal window

2020 to 2030

Current status

At maturity, entering peak

Current condition

Well-integrated, shows mature tertiary notes with still-fresh structure

Spring Mountain Vineyard Elivette is built for aging, blending structure and freshness of mountain fruit with polished tannins; 2011 was a cool vintage, so the wine leans toward elegance and longevity, now expressing a blend of fruit and savory maturity.

Food pairing

Aged beef (ribeye, tenderloin), roast lamb, mushroom risotto, hard aged cheeses (Comté, aged Gouda), herb-roasted root vegetables.

Serving

Decant

Yes (30 minutes) — The wine is 14 years old, which allows it to benefit from decanting to enhance its aromas and flavors, despite its fine-grained tannins being integrated.

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 5/10

Practices include partial estate-grown approach, hillside dry-farming in select blocks, modest use of irrigation, integrated pest management; not known for significant sustainability initiatives during 2011 era. Standard glass packaging.

Spring Mountain Vineyard in 2011 operated with conventional practices prevalent in Napa, lacking formal environmental certifications or published sustainability efforts. They benefit from hillside farming (potentially less water use) but did not publicize major sustainability initiatives until after this vintage; packaging and transport are standard for the premium Napa segment. No major sustainability negatives, but also no advanced credentials.