Description
RED CELLAR TRIO WINE CLUB SELECTION
Laird Family Estate traces its roots to its long farming tradition, which began in Virginia and continued when Ken Laird brought that heritage to Napa Valley, where he and his wife, Gail, purchased their first parcel in 1970: a neglected 70-acre prune orchard in Calistoga that they transformed into vineyard land. With encouragement from Robert Mondavi, they planted the site to Gamay and Cabernet Sauvignon, launching a decades-long expansion that would see the family build vineyards across Napa and Sonoma and earn a reputation as meticulous growers supplying fruit to respected wineries. In 1999, after nearly 30 years of farming for others, the Lairds established Laird Family Estate to craft their own wines from select estate vineyard sites, expressing their belief that each vineyard should tell its own story. Today, the family operates one of Napa Valley’s largest farming businesses, with more than 2,000 acres of planted vineyards, and continues to emphasize quality, sustainability, and wines that reflect a true sense of place.
The 2019 Laird Jillian’s Blend is a Napa Valley red that bridges Left Bank Bordeaux structure with a Rhône-inspired Syrah accent. It honors Jillian Laird, the family’s third-generation namesake, through a multi-vineyard blend selected to showcase distinct Napa sites. Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from Dry Creek (31%), Flat Rock Ranch (21%), and Linda Vista (15%); Syrah and Merlot come entirely from Suscol Ranch; and Malbec and Petit Verdot are sourced exclusively from Flat Rock Ranch. This site-specific approach combines Cabernet’s structural core with the vibrant fruit, aromatic lift, and textural detail contributed by the other vineyards and varieties. The component wines were aged for 21 months in oak—90% French and 10% American—with 35% new and 65% neutral barrels, lending savory toast and sweet spice while allowing the vineyard fruit and varietal character to remain central. The result is a structured yet approachable red with notes of blackberry jam, sweet cherry, cassis, dark chocolate, and a long, gently chewy finish.
