2021 Mending Wall “Mortar And Stone”

The winery sources fruit from their own estate vineyard and neighboring vineyards within the St. Helena AVA. All in all, the brand farms roughly 8 acres, a majority of which is Cabernet Sauvignon.

A fun fact about Mending Wall Winery: what wine lovers may not know about winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown is that prior to jumping into the world of wine, he studied literature. The name ‘Mending Wall’ comes from a Robert Frost poem and is a nod to the collaboration between the four founding friends.

The Complete Mending Wall Portfolio of Wines

With winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown at the helm of Mending Wall, it should come as no surprise that the winery’s portfolio leans heavily into Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The current lineup of wines includes five lush Cabernets, the “Stone on Stone,” a Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon white blend, and two Petite Sirahs. Prices range between $45 and $175 per bottle.

Thomas Rivers Brown Wines

If you drink luxury Napa Valley Cabernet, you’ve had the wines of Thomas Rivers Brown. While Rivers Brown does have his own label, Rivers-Marie, which produces ethereal Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Sonoma Coast and Sonoma Valley, he’s best known for producing some of Napa and Sonoma’s most highly sought-after bottlings from some of the state’s most prestigious wineries.

In Napa, Brown lends his expertise to iconic names like Schrader Cellars, crafting their powerful Cabernet Sauvignons like the Beckstoffer To Kalon and Hyde Vineyard. He brings finesse and structure to Maybach Family Vineyards‘ luxurious Cabernet Sauvignons and Bordeaux blends. At Revana Family Vineyard, he oversees single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons that showcase the unique terroir of Rutherford Bench.

Beyond the swanky vineyards of Napa, Brown’s touch graces Sonoma Coast’s Outpost Winery, known for its expressive Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. He even ventures overseas, consulting for Australia’s Two Hands on their Shiraz and Grenache bottlings.

As if that incredible lineup of wineries wasn’t enough of a resume, winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown was named Winemaker of the Year in 2010 by Food & Wine Magazine, and over 20 of his wines have received perfect 100-point scores from Wine Spectator.

Visiting Mending Wall for a Tasting

As a boutique, small production winery, the tasting experience at Mending Wall differs from larger Napa Valley winery tasting rooms like Chateau Montelena, where the experience can be rushed and crowded.

When you visit Mending Wall winery, you are paired with someone from the winery, and that host is dedicated just to you and your group. This high-touch experience also allows guests to taste library wines that are not available to the public or on the website.

The winery also recently added a “Chef’s Selection: Food & Wine Pairing”, a type of wine tasting experience that’s gaining in popularity in Napa. Tastings range in price from $85 per person to $125 per person.