From Craig MacLean:
"MacLean Wines is my first solo project after 18 years of winemaking experience in the Napa Valley. The enjoyment of wine is enhanced by having a sense of the people and places that were involved in its creation."
Upon graduation he was hired as Assistant Winemaker for Markham Vineyards where he stayed for 2 years. In 1989 he accepted the Assistant Winemaker position at Cain Cellars and the following year he was promoted to Winemaker and continued the Cain Five tradition for four vintages. In 1994, Craig moved down the hill to Spring Mountain Vineyard for four vintages. Early in1998 Craig and some friends decided to create a small wine brand together. What started out as a 500 case project soon grew to 3000 cases and Craig left Spring Mountain to found the Kelham MacLean project. After three vintages, Craig and his partners sold the company, and in 2001, Craig crushed the first grapes for MacLean Wines
The 2001 MacLean Cabernet Sauvignon is Craig’s first solo release, the culmination of 17 years of winemaking experience in the Napa Valley. Craig’s winemaking philosophy centers around creating wines that are intense, complex and balanced; and which allow the full expression of the variety/vineyard/vintage. Premier vineyards and varietal blending are two important keys to producing great wines. The Cabernet Sauvignon originated from a small hillside vineyard off the Silverado Trail just southof the Stag’s Leap District. The Merlot comes from the Tokalon vineyard in Oakville and the Cabernet Franc comes from high up in the Oakville appellation.
