Historically, this old vineyard can trace its origins to the 1870s. In 1979, lawyer Bill Seavey purchased this Conn Valley property and planted vines in 1981. There are just over 35 acres of vines, most of which are Cabernet Sauvignon. The bulk of the production is sold to Kendall-Jackson, but Seavey estate bottles small quantities of Chardonnay and 600-1200 cases of a potentially superb, concentrated, and long-lived Cabernet Sauvignon. All of the wines are aged in small French oak barrels, of which 60% are purchased new from the well-known coopers, Taransaud and Segau-Moreau. Seavey's Cabernet Sauvignons are aged in small French oak casks, of which 60% are new. The wines can be exceptional, as evidenced by the 1991 and 1990, two extraordinarily promising Cabernets. Interestingly, the 1991 is still available at the winery, as are a few bottles of the 1990. The 1990 Cabernet Sauvignon (500 cases) is a blockbuster, opaque black/purple-colored wine with great intensity, extraordinary ripeness and richness, and a huge finish with a softer style. Even so, this wine needs 4-5 years of cellaring; it is a 20-25 year candidate for cellaring. Tel. (707) 963-8339 (winery) or (415) 788-0800; fax (415) 434-1937

Dark, rich, chewy and supple, jam-packed with layers of high-extract currant, anise, cherry and cedary oak flavors and plush tannins. Should age up to 20 years; best to cellar until 1997. -JL