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Located on the hillsides of Napa Valley, Bond’s Quella vineyard is rooted on a steep slope overlooking the valley, near St. Helena. Planted on rocky alluvial soils blending gravel, pebbles, and volcanic deposits, the vines benefit from an elevated exposure that favors significant thermal amplitudes. This terroir, cool for the region, well-drained, and poor in nutrients, allows for slow and consistent grape maturation, giving birth to a Cabernet Sauvignon of great precision, marked by fruit purity and an elegant structure.

Quella's grapes are harvested manually at perfect ripeness, carefully sorted, then transferred by gravity into tanks to preserve the integrity of the berries. Fermentation takes place in tanks adapted to the parcel's profile, with measured extraction to prioritize tannin finesse and fruit purity. Aging then occurs over a long period in oak barrels, predominantly French, with a significant proportion of new wood, to refine the structure, add aromatic complexity, and harmoniously integrate the terroir's character.

This wine reveals notes of ripe dark fruits, blue fruits, and fresh red fruits, complemented by delicate floral touches, subtle spicy accents, and finely integrated cedar and blond tobacco oak. The palate is distinguished by a silky texture, a precise tannic framework, vibrant acidity, and a long, straight, and saline finish, which elegantly extends the aromatic nuances.

In the United States, 90% of the wine produced comes from California. It was the influx of gold prospectors to California that revitalized the Californian wine industry in the mid-19th century, particularly in the Sonoma and Napa regions. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were 800 wineries. From 1919 to 1933, Prohibition decimated the vast majority of the Californian wine industry, so that by 1933, only 140 wineries remained. It wasn't until 1960 that the wine industry began to recover from Prohibition, and California was primarily known for producing fortified wines (in the style of Port). It was also in the 1960s that some of the most famous wineries were established (Mondavi, Heitz Wine Cellars, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, etc.). In 1976, a landmark event took place: the legendary tasting competition better known as the "Judgment of Paris." It pitted the greatest French wines against the new American upstarts. On May 24th, an unexpected result shook the wine world, as, to everyone's surprise, the United States emerged victorious. This competition, however, remains relatively unknown to the general public. Today, there is no doubt that the United States produces great wines. While California largely dominates the reputation of American wines with its excellent Zinfandels, the state of Oregon produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world, and Washington State offers excellent Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.