The story of Hundred Acre Wine Group
By Lisa Gmur, CSW
OPERATION STORYTELLER
Jayson Woodbridge, the man behind the cult cab Hundred Acre as well as his latest endeavors, Fortunate Son and Summer Dreams, is a full throttle kind of guy and it shows in his wines and his life. Just ask The Wine Advocate’s Antonio Galloni. Here is what he said back in 2012.
“Jayson Woodbrige is one of the most focused and determined people I have ever met in the Napa Valley, or anywhere, for that matter. A man of deeply held convictions, Woodbridge knows exactly what he wants to achieve and won’t let anyone get in the way. His inner drive and passion are both remarkable. I suppose surviving cancer at the age of 18 will do that to you. Hundred Acre fans will find much to admire as the Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignons remain some of the most distinctive wines being made in Napa Valley today.”
More recently Wine Critic Lisa Perotti Brown had this to say about the man behind the wine. “Hundred Acre is the ultra-premium cult Napa Cabernet project of Jayson Woodbridge, owner, vintner and visionary. His motto is concise, “stand amongst the very best or not at all”.
And that he has achieved without apology. Exacting and unrelenting in his passions, for Woodbridge, there is no halfway. And it is only once you truly grasp that concept that you begin to understand how Hundred Acre has become one of the world’s top wineries. The awarding of 65 perfect 100 scores to Hundred Acre wines by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate since 2002 speaks for itself.
As Lisa Perrotti-Brown states, Hundred Acre is “far from a vanity wine project, it’s a life’s work”.
Jayson’s newest project’s; Summer dreams makes up one third of a triumvirate high end Californian wines, the second is the epic Fortunate Son, and of course at the top is Hundred Acre. Each wine has its own meaning, essence, and style.
Pictured Left: Jayson Woodbridge
Fortunate Son
Fortunate Son is the culmination of more than two decades searching for small jewel vineyards and the fruit from them, handcrafted in the same, meticulous way as Hundred Acre.
The 2018 vintage of Fortunate Son was made at Hundred Acre’s underground winery: The RING. In the future, Fortunate Son will be crafted at their new winery: The Fortunate Son Winery at the Historic David Fulton Vineyard Established in 1860.
These wines are all brooding, elegant weapons, seductive and haunting, they will get your full attention and your love and become an integral part of your cellar’s strength.
THE WARRIOR is a Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Pure, total power and darkness. Be careful as you may like it too much and it could put you in the mood to tell people what you really think. It again is not for the faint of heart it is for those with a will of steel and determination to match. This is a wine for people that admire subtle elegance and not-so-subtle power.
THE DREAMER is a Small Vineyard Block Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley. This wine is dark and brooding, a wine of elegance, fine and structured tannins, and basically the wine-equivalent of a Wagner piece on a stormy night after unexpectedly making an enormous sum of money. In other words, it is fucking pure magic with rock bloody solid complexity on a very high level.
THE DIPLOMAT is a Small Vineyard Block Red Blend from Napa Valley. This is a wine which Winston Churchill would have been drinking whilst insulting Hitler or some pandering moron. The wine is dark and rich and is not for the faint of heart, if you are looking for.
FORTUNATE SON WINE
The Diplomat Red Blend, Napa Valley Valley
The Dreamer Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
The Warrior Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Summer Dreams
Summer Dreams; a love letter to the spirit of the California Summer. Each wine is made in the signature “Jayson Woodbridge” style. With Woodbridge acting as spiritual guide on a white winemaking journey with the very inspired and talented winemaker Ashley Holland, on a holy quest for the smallest and most exquisite little vineyards.
A range of expressions based upon the selection of unique micro-vineyard blocks, dappled across the Western Sonoma Coast of California. Each hillside vineyard site is chosen for its generous slope and unique sequences of Goldridge soils ranging from 900-1900 feet above sea level.
Jayson’s obsession with Goldridge soils is at the heart of what makes Summer Dreams wines so unique. Goldridge soils are a rare, fine-grained sandy loam, known for excellent drainage, and a characteristically light and fluffy texture. Some of the particularly unique sites have Goldridge layered on top of ancient seabeds with a high clay content that helps the soil retain precious moisture during the growing season.
Pictured Right: Golden Hour Pinot Noir is luxurious and velvety, discover the spirit of the Sonoma Coast.
Summer Dreams Wine
Walking on Venice Beach Sauv Blanc, Sonoma Coast
The Sun Also Rises Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
Martian Pink Rosé, Sonoma Coast
Summer Dreams Portfolio
WALKING ON VENICE BEACH SAUVIGNON BLANC
White flower, stone fruit and asiatic tropical fruit notes with a textural mid palate, vibrant acid, and a racy finish.
THE SUN ALSO RISES CHARDONNAY
An intertwining of Sonoma coastal notes featuring lemon drop candy and lemon verbena are supported by a subtle oak frame.
MARTIAN PINK ROSÉ
To create a truly special rosé, we use a blend of winemaking techniques on 100% pinot noir grapes.
STARGAZING PINOT NOIR
A dark edge with dark fruit, black cherry, and black plum with hints of the salty sea-spray and misty fog rolling into the Sonoma coast from the pacific ocean.
TWILIGHT PINOT NOIR
A dark edge with dark fruit, black cherry, and black plum with hints of the salty sea-spray and misty fog rolling into the Sonoma Coast from the Pacifc Ocean.
SUPER CHILL PINOT NOIR
Red fruit-forward with cranberry and raspberry notes, very textural in the mouth, and has a lifted finish.
GOLDEN HOUR PINOT NOIR
Due to the more eastern orientation of the vineyard, this wine is a riper and fuller expression of a mix of red and purple fruits.
Pictured Right: Golden Hour Pinot Noir has a dark fruit profile with a riper and fuller expression of Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast.
Summer Dreams Wine
Stargazing Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
Twilight Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
Super Chill Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
Golden Hour Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast