Situated southeast of the winery on the border between Oakville and Yountville, Vecina received a more generous allotment of the rain that did fall early in the mostly dry year. The window for harvest was the longest of the five vineyards, stretching from August 22nd to September 3rd. "The nose offers a preview of the wine’s firm, vertical posture as notes of dark fruit, coffee, and wild sage rise to greet the approach. The wine’s notable structure is somewhat softened by a suppleness that seeps in from its perimeter, while the brisk tannins ascend steeply on the midpalate. This structural poise, at its summit, rewards the senses with a halo of warmth that, like the colors of a sunset, intensifies as it ebbs.' -Cory Empting, winemaker

Sourced from select hillside estates, the Cabernet Sauvignon wines of BOND vividly demonstrate the range of Napa Valley's finest terroirs. From the more than eighty vineyards they have worked with over the past quarter century, they have slowly and vigilantly selected five sites. BOND became their covenant and shared commitment to produce only the best expression of the land. By way of this valuable experience, they had the opportunity to identify select properties that they felt had the potential to define the ‘Grand Crus’ of Napa Valley. These small hillside Cabernet vineyards, ranging in size from 7 to 11 acres, became the basis for the wines of BOND. Cory Empting began his career as the assistant winemaker to Bob Levy and now oversees winery and vineyard operations.