Grand Crus

QUELLA is the name for the wine from a 9-acre site located in the eastern hills overlooking the heart of the Napa Valley.


Making its debut with the 2006 vintage, the name is derived from the German word for a pristine source or an artesian aquifer. This property is steeply sloped facing southwest. The site is an ancient riverbed composed of cobble and rocks interwoven with pockets of tufa (volcanic ash) that were uplifted during the last volcanic activity in the area. Quella displays an almost ethereal quality of blue fruits, graphite, and a vibrant, subtle finish.

SOIL: Ancient uplifted riverbed covered with Tufa (volcanic ash).
Southwest Exposure.

ELEVATION: 433-595 feet

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Accolades

2009QuellaView
The 2009 Quella is a big, big wine. Layers of plush, inviting dark fruit saturate the palate. The 2009 possesses remarkable depth and sheer purity from start to finish. Silky, finessed tannins frame the exceptionally polished, refined finish. This is a superb, intense Quella that should drink beautifully for a number of years. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.

94-96 Points
Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate (December 2011)
2008QuellaView
Full ruby-red color. Very ripe aromas of raspberry, licorice and menthol; this too struck me as claret-like. Sweet and refined in the mouth, already showing superb harmony to its raspberry, redcurrant and graphite flavors. Finishes with suave tannins and outstanding length. Like the Melbury, this seems balanced to give early pleasure but should have no trouble lasting for 15 to 20 years in bottle. (Incidentally, pHs here were average in 2008 but acids a bit higher, said director of winegrowing Bob Levy, who offered the opinion that 2008 was a bit like 2005 in style.)

94 Points
Steven Tanzer, International Wine Cellar (May/June 2011)
The 2008 Quella is a dark, brooding wine loaded with super-ripe dark black fruit, smoke, tar and licorice. It is a seriously intense wine that will require bottle age. This is an especially authoritative wine from Bond. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2028.

93 Points
Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate (December 2011)
2007QuellaView
The 2007 Quella performed slightly better than I predicted last year. A magical combination of blueberry liqueur intermixed with crushed rock, spring flowers (violets?), earth, pen ink and burning ember leads to a full-bodied, majestically rich wine with a multilayered texture, silky tannins and a phenomenally long finish of over 50 seconds. This sensational 2007 should drink well for 25-30+ years.

97 Points
Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate (December 2010)
2006QuellaView
Saturated ruby. Musky aromas of blue and black fruits, truffle, tobacco and loam, all lifted by an ineffable mineral perfume. Lush, suave and sweet, with juicy acidity framing the black cherry, dark chocolate and mineral flavors. The long, rising finish features very ripe, fine-grained tannins and sneaky intensity of flavor.

93 Points
Steven Tanzer, International Wine Cellar (May/June 2009)
Complex, perfumed aromas of ripe cherry, plum and currant tighten up in this full-bodied, well-structured wine. Focused and concentrated, this slowly unfolds to reveal greater depth and concentration, ending with a long, persistent finish. Best from 2011 through 2017.

93 Points
Jim Laube, Wine Spectator (November 15, 2009)
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