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The Vineyard
Friend and Mentor MFK Fisher
Past Reviews and Tasting Notes

The Vineyard
Heron Lake Vineyard is situated in Wild Horse Valley, 1500 feet above the floor of Napa Valley and five miles east of the city of Napa. Wild horses used to snort and frolic in the cool climate of Wild Horse Valley in the 19th century, but since then the valley has been the home of a gentler breed: grape growers. Grapes were first grown in the valley by Joseph Vorbe and Constantino Malandrino who planted 50 and 7 acres, respectively, in the early 1880s.
Although today, the 3,300-acre valley has only about 70 acres of vines in three vineyard operations, the federal government saw fit in 1988 to distinguish it from other grape growing regions in Napa Valley by creating the Wild Horse Valley appellation. While Napa Valley has hot summer afternoons because of sunny exposures, heat-absorbing soils, and a lack of marine air, Wild Horse Valley's southerly location near San Pablo and Suisun bays exposes it to cool westerly winds. On the other hand, Wild Horse Valley gets more sunshine in the summer because the fogs that blanket Napa Valley often stop short of the higher (1,000' to 1,600') elevations of Wild Horse. Because of the rocky, volcanic soil and the cool windy maritime air mass, the yields have always been small. The small yields are balanced by fruit quality of great color, intensity and minerality.

Friend and Mentor M.F.K. Fisher
M.F.K. Fisher, the renowned writer about food and life, was a friend of David’s and a fan of our wines. She was the god-mother of David’s first daughter, Laurel. We remember her fondly. David made this portrait of Mary Francis in 1984 in her Glen Ellen home.

Some Past Reviews of Miss Olivia Pinot Noir
From Wally's Wine in Los Angeles ("The #1 wine shop in Los Angeles" according to Zagat):
2005 Olivia Brion Pinot Noir Wild Horse Valley
Pinot Noir fans, Wally’s is pleased to offer it E-Club members a chance to experience the pleasures of one of the NapaValley’s best-kept secrets, Olivia Brion Pinot Noir. Grown in the mountains just east of the town of Napa, winegrower David Mahaffey’s mature vineyard (planted in 1980) has a Wild Horse Valley viticultural appellation. Its rocky, volcanic soil and cool, windy maritime air mass produce small yields averaging one ton per acre. The field blend of Dijon and Pommard clone fruit produces a Pinot Noir with a brilliant crimson garnet color, and is replete with heady aromatics that include Damson plum, baking spices, dried roses and a signature flintiness from the vineyard's rocky, mineral-laden subsoil. A smooth, broad mid-palate stylishly delivers a broad range of deliciously satisfying Pinot Noir flavors.
The minuscule 450 case production is already spoken for, with the majority destined for several of the nation's finest restaurants: New York's Gramercy Tavern and Spark's Steak House, San Francisco's Gary Danko, Fleur de Lys and Le Colonial, Napa Valley's Terra, Bistro Jeanty, La Toque and Mustard's. Fortunately, David Mahaffey is a Wally's fan, and he has agreed to divert enough cases our way so that we can share this terrific, little known gem of a Pinot Noir with our E-Club members. (Up to 6 bottles, that is!) Enjoy your new discovery over the course of a wonderful dinner; its charms grow in the glass.

Back Room Wines in Napa put Olivia Brion 2005 Pinot Noir on its Super List of Six Super California Pinot Noirs:
"California meets Burgundy in this Pinot Noir from the hills just beyond Napa Valley. Wild cherry, tobacco, mincemeat, orange spice tea and herbs de Provence: this is a Pinot for lovers of the classic version."