Penultimate: A New Chapter at Promontory

BY ANTONIO GALLONI | SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

An in-depth look at Promontory from The Vineyards of Yountville, by Antonio Galloni and Alessandro Masnaghetti, © Vinous Media 2020.

When Bill Harlan first told me about Promontory, I could not picture where it was. I had no reference points. This was around the time I became fascinated – obsessed might be a better word – with mapping Napa Valley. Shortly thereafter I visited the property for the first time with Cory Empting. Promontory encompasses approximately 80 acres of rugged hillside vineyards, about 50 of which are currently in production, virtually all Cabernet Sauvignon. It is an extremely diverse site, with many different exposures and aspects. There are basically three major soil types; sedimentary on the west, volcanic soils in the east and metamorphics through the center tenderloin of parcels. The west-facing parcels see more heat, so they tend to ripen earlier than the east facing blocks, the exception being the tiny west-facing blocks close to the entrance that are in an especially cool micro-climate. Harvest typically runs from mid-September to mid-October.