The Crane Assembly Disciples 2016

Drink now through to 2026. No need to decant before serving.

Legendary American winemaker Dave Phinney, who is best known for his iconic The Prisoner and Orin Swift wines, teamed up with industry veterans Kevin Fox, Darryl Browman and Bryan Sandoli to found The Crane Assembly in St Helena. The estate is based around one of Napa’s oldest vineyards which was planted in 1885 by George Beldon Crane and still boasts 4 acres of those original ancient Zinfandel vines.

The Disciples bottling is crafted from predominantly Zinfandel grapes along with smaller proportions of Charbono, Grenache and Petite Sirah grapes. The grapes destined for this wine are sourced from the Morisoli Vineyard in Rutherford and the Milat Vineyard in St. Helena which Dave considers to be “disciples” of the venerable Crane vines.

On the nose there are generous aromas of strawberries, dark plums, vanilla and hints of cigar box, while the palate offers ripe cherries, licorice, dark chocolate and baking spice. A smooth, velvety mouthfeel and soft tannins are present from the first sip along with a full body and long warm finish. This powerful red is an ideal partner for red meat dishes including steak, beef tacos or a hearty winter stew.