Kata: An Exciting Debut From Napa Valley

I knew it the moment I tasted it. The wine in my glass was one of the most exciting new projects in Napa Valley. What was it? Kata’s 2011 Beckstoffer Bourn Vineyard, a gorgeous, distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon/Petite Sirah blend from a heritage site in St. Helena steeped in history.

As President of Beckstoffer Vineyards, David Beckstoffer oversees a collection of iconic Napa Valley sites that includes Missouri Hopper, Georges III, Las Piedras, Dr. Crane, To Kalon and, more recently, Bourn. Interestingly, Kata is David Beckstoffer's first wine project. Kata is a Japanese word that refers to a series of repetitive, choreographed movements used to demonstrate mastery in the martial arts, a search for excellence that is reflected in Beckstoffer's calm, measured demeanor and total attention to detail. It takes a lot of conviction to release a new, high-end wine in Napa Valley, where the competition is so intense. To do it with the 2011 vintage is gutsy, to say the least. 

Winemaker Benoit Touquette, who is originally from Bordeaux, honed his chops under several mentors, including Michel Rolland and Andy Erickson, and currently makes the wines at Realm, Magrez, Hartwell and a handful of other properties. Touquette has always impressed me with his work ethic and passion for the great vineyards of Napa Valley, so it is hardly a surprise the first vintages from Bourn are so full of promise.

In 2010, Beckstoffer Vineyards, led by family patriarch Andy Beckstoffer, purchased a piece of Hayne Vineyard in St. Helena, a site that has informed several notable wines over the years, none more profound than Larry Turley’s Petite Sirahs. The Beckstoffers rechristened their parcel Bourn Vineyard, after the original owner William Bowers Bourn II, who made his fortune in mining during California’s Gold Rush. The entire Beckstoffer parcel can be seen in the map to the left. Note: the small green rectangle in the northeast part of the site that abuts South Crane Avenue is a new home that is currently being built by another owner.