Yates Family Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder 2013

Yates Family Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder 2013 is a 750ml, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Mount Veeder appellation of Napa Valley, California. Grown at over 1,200 feet elevation on volcanic hillside soils, this mountain Cabernet delivers concentrated dark fruit layered with pronounced graphite minerality and structured, age-worthy tannins.

Quick Facts: Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon  |  Origin: Mount Veeder, Napa Valley  |  Vintage: 2013  |  Vineyard: Yates Family Vineyard

Production & Heritage

The Yates family replanted their 35 acres of steep, hillside vineyards in the early 1980s to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. Perched above 1,200 feet on Mount Veeder's rugged western slopes, the vineyard's volcanic soils and varied microclimates across separate blocks produce grapes of exceptional concentration and site-specific character. Each section of the property, with its own sun exposure and soil composition, contributes distinct qualities to the wine — a hallmark of mountain viticulture where low yields and intense sunlight push flavor development well beyond what valley-floor sites typically achieve.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark ruby in the glass, the wine opens with elegant blackberry and dark cherry aromatics. Toasted cedar and cocoa powder follow, and with time a dry, dusty nuance emerges on the bouquet.

Taste: Black cherry and dark bramble fruits arrive with force on the entry, quickly joined by graphite minerality and clove spice at the mid-palate. Firm tannins carry distinct baker's chocolate inflections, building in density. As the wine breathes further, a dried tobacco leaf character surfaces, adding another layer of savory complexity.

Finish: The finish is long and grippy, with youthful tannins persisting for quite some time. Lingering notes of dark fruit, mineral, and toasted cedar gradually fade, rewarding patience with each sip.

How to Drink Yates Family Mount Veeder

Decant this wine for at least 30 to 60 minutes before serving to allow the structured tannins to soften and the aromatic complexity to fully unfold. Serve at 60–65°F in a large Bordeaux-style glass. Given the wine's concentration and tannic backbone, it also takes well to hearty food pairings — grilled ribeye steak with a peppercorn crust, braised short ribs with root vegetables, or a rich mushroom risotto all complement its power and dark fruit character.

Best For

• Cellaring alongside other structured Napa Valley mountain Cabernets
• Pairing with grilled prime cuts of beef or slow-braised lamb
• Gifting a Napa Valley wine collector who values terroir-driven bottlings
• Special anniversary or milestone dinners calling for a mature vintage

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Yates Family Mount Veeder taste like? The dominant profile revolves around concentrated black cherry and dark bramble fruit, interlaced with graphite minerality, clove spice, baker's chocolate, and dried tobacco leaf. It is a full-bodied, firmly tannic wine with notable depth and a long finish.

How does Yates Family Mount Veeder compare to Frank Family Mount Veeder Cabernet? Both are 2013-vintage Mount Veeder Cabernets grown at elevation on volcanic soils, but they come from different estate sites with distinct microclimates. Yates Family tends toward pronounced graphite minerality and a more austere tannic structure, while Frank Family is generally recognized for a slightly more polished, approachable style at a similar age.

Is Yates Family Mount Veeder good for aging? Yes — the combination of firm, youthful tannins, high-elevation fruit concentration, and volcanic soil-driven minerality gives this wine a strong framework for further cellaring. The 2013 Napa Valley vintage is broadly regarded as excellent, supporting continued development in bottle.

Where is Yates Family Mount Veeder made? It is produced from the Yates Family Vineyard in the Mount Veeder appellation, located on the western slopes of Napa Valley, California. The vineyard's 35 acres of steep hillside plantings sit above 1,200 feet elevation.

What foods pair well with Yates Family Mount Veeder? Grilled bone-in ribeye, whose fat and char complement the wine's firm tannins. Braised short ribs, which mirror its dark fruit richness. Roasted lamb with rosemary, echoing the herbal undertones. Aged cheddar or Gruyère, which stand up to the wine's intensity. Dark chocolate desserts, reinforcing the baker's chocolate notes on the palate.

What sizes does Yates Family Mount Veeder come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Yates Family Mount Veeder worth the price? Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon occupies a premium tier within the broader Napa Valley category, reflecting the high cost of farming steep volcanic hillside vineyards at elevation. This bottling positions as a small-production, terroir-driven wine that competes with other mountain-grown Napa Cabernets in its class.

Why Yates Family Mount Veeder?

What separates this wine from the broader sea of Napa Valley Cabernet is pure mountain character. The Yates family's hillside vineyards — replanted in the early 1980s and farmed across multiple distinct blocks — sit at an elevation where low yields, intense sun exposure, and volcanic soils conspire to produce uncommonly concentrated fruit. The 2013 vintage, widely considered one of Napa Valley's strongest recent years, gave these mountain grapes ideal ripening conditions. The result is a site-specific bottling with genuine depth, structural integrity, and the kind of graphite-laced minerality that defines top Mount Veeder Cabernet.