The philosophy of BOND, founded by California vintner H. William Harlan, is to offer wines from vineyards that highlight very specific sites in Napa Valley. William Harlan, owner of Harlan Estates, noticed some vineyards used for his flagship estate were distinct enough to be bottled on their own, as single vineyards. This inspired him to found Bond Estates. Today, five sites have been carefully selected to best express the richness of Cabernet Sauvignon. These five sites have been named "the grand crus of Napa '' by Harlan.
Bond Quella Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Napa Valley: The nose is classic Quella: fresh blue fruit and a nod towards minerality. This Quella demonstrates a zest for life that never shouts, but stands in perfect posture with a natural, beaming smile. The texture of the wine is effortless—light on its feet, yet simultaneously deep. The tannins follow an almost choreographed line on the palate. As the finish lingers, it feels remarkably comfortable in its skin for this early stage of its life. The 2017 Quella comes from a steep, southwest-facing vineyard in the eastern Vaca hillsides, just up from Joseph Phelps's winery and Denali Estate. Deep garnet-purple colored, it explodes with bombastic scents of stewed plums, boysenberries, crème de cassis and kirsch plus hints of black truffles, tar and damp soil. The palate is full-bodied and velvety, jam-packed with blackberry and plum preserves flavors with lots of savory nuances on the long finish. 95 WINE ADVOCATE
The 2017 Quella is a dark powerhouse. Blackberry jam, grilled herbs, sage, menthol, licorice and chocolate infuse the 2017 with tremendous aromatic complexity to play off its natural richness. Savory and brooding, the Quella is a distinctly brooding Cabernet. 94 VINOUS
Bond Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Eden 2017, Napa Valley: MT. EDEN is based upon an 11-acre rocky knoll that is part of a beautiful estate located just north of the Oakville Crossroad. Eden is an historical reference to this region's designation on nineteenth century maps. The red rocky soil of this north-facing site originates from high in the Vaca Mountains. St. Eden, which appeared first in the 2001 vintage, reliably shows great focus, an opulent "sweet" center and notes of crème de cassis, dark chocolate, and roasted herbs. Mineral-tinged and broad on the palate, the wine consistently displays fine-grained tannins and a lush concentration. SOIL: Iron Rich fractured volcanic rock from a landslide. Northern Exposure. ELEVATION: 145-188 feet
Bond Vecina Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Napa Valley: This girl next door is a perfect-10. Named ‘Vecina’ from the Spanish word for neighbor, and sourced from a site just southeast of the BOND winery, this blend is always powerful, intense and savory. Packed seamlessly with blackberry, black cherry and black-truffle, this is the kind of darkness we dream about getting lost in. Patient cellaring will be rewarded with an “incredible, insanely good Cabernet.” -Jeb Dunnuck