Wines

After several drought years, extensive autumn and winter rain brought intense green color back to the vineyard, and with it a sigh of relief. A gentle, warm growing season continued through the summer, only to be abruptly cut short on Labor Day when an extended heatwave tested our nerve and responsiveness. 

The small scale of our operation, our on-site winery and cooling facilities were key in this high-pressure vintage, where success or failure were measured in hours not days.

Decanting Recommendation: Please open and allow the wine to breathe 1-2 hours in bottle before serving.

This growing season shaped the concentrated character of our fruit from the very outset, with limited spring rainfall pre-empting small berry size, deep intensity and vibrant freshness. Summer brought warm days without extreme heat, oscillating with cool nights and the refreshment of morning mists to our hillside vineyard.

Layers of expressive, primary fruit are marked by wild blackberry, plum, mulberry and citrus peel aromas, with dark lilac, lavender and menthol notes creating a sensation of expansiveness. A lively mineral quality underpins the creamy density of the mid-palate, while a gentle yet precise tannic structure promises graceful aging.

Decanting Recommendation: Please allow 5 hours.

We would be remiss not to acknowledge the dramatic fires that swept through Napa in this extraordinary year, or the firefighters who bravely fought at the boundaries of our vineyard to save forests that in normal times protect and nurture our ecosystem.

Yet for Bergman the 2020 vintage recalls moments of resilience and hope. The final grapes were picked on the eve of the Glass Fire in what our family refers to as the ‘miracle pick’. This wine is testament to the powerful voice of an historic site whose nature sings out in spite of it all.

It is almost unheard of to end harvest before October 1st, but low rainfall in the growing season reduced yields and induced early ripening. The result is deeply refined, offering indulgent blueberry and brioche aromas that evolve towards red plum and delicate rose petal. Smooth, fine tannins are woven deeply into the body of the wine, bringing textural resolution and layering through the finish.

Decanting Recommendation: Please allow 1 hour.

There is a deep comfort to be found in a year when the climate conforms to a vintner’s expectations and respects the regular rhythm of the seasons.

Long summer days drifted into each other as gentle sunlight gradually drew our fruit toward an equilibrium of ripeness and freshness. Cool nights and recurrent morning mists revitalized the vines through even the warmest stages of the growing cycle, delivering signature mountain-valley vibrancy.

The result is a wine that speaks of a moderate climate in an era of extremes. Profound intensity and structure are held within an ultra-fine tannic framework. Beneath primary layers of wild raspberry lies a deep, dense core of blue fruit, vanilla crème brûlée and freshly cut lavender.

Decanting Recommendation: Please allow 5 hours.

Our strongest memories are made from moments that cannot be relived.

The first Bergman vintage scarcely filled three barrels; the personality of our site and the events of an entire year concentrated into these few precious casks. We watched, impatient for clues that might reveal some facet of its character, but the wine remained impenetrable, ink-like, unyielding.

Only after several years were we ready to call it Bergman, as our signature deep-blue and black fruit core gently came into sharp focus, finding harmony alongside savory notes of wild herbs and delicate rose petal. A firm, tight structure began to unwind and soften, revealing layer after layer of refined texture — a Bergman hallmark and a promise of longevity.

Decanting Recommendation: Please allow 2 hours.

Widely praised as an exemplary vintage for Napa Valley, the 2023 growing season began with abundant winter rains that reinvigorated our vineyard, gardens, and surrounding forest. A cool spring was followed by warm – but never extreme – summer temperatures. Right through harvest, this was a vintage of serenity, where nature never forced our hand.

A characteristic gunflint aroma immediately gives way to exotic white peach, citrus blossom and lime zest, above gentle base notes of savory pine resin and green almond. Striking textural layering and phenolic grip deliver signature tension at the outset, before softening to expose depth and nuance. A long, lingering finish displays the freshness and vitality necessary for extended aging.

After several drought years, extensive fall and winter rain flooded the vineyard with intense green color, bringing with it a sigh of relief. A gentle, warm growing season lasted until mid-August, when our Chardonnay was picked at optimal ripeness before the upcoming Labor Day heatwave.

A beautiful gunflint note lifts to reveal a singular citrus, papaya and green almond core, offering outstanding intensity and brightness. Waves of savory rosemary and delicate floral aromatics underpin the dense fruit. 

A silky, layered texture and mouthwatering vibrancy deliver energy and intrigue, promising exceptional longevity.

This growing season shaped the concentrated character of our fruit from the very outset, with limited spring rainfall pre-empting small berry size, deep intensity and vibrant freshness. Summer brought warm days without extreme heat, oscillating with cool nights and the refreshment of morning mists to our hillside vineyard. 

Citrus zest and crushed rock aromas give way to fragrant notes of honeysuckle, white peach and green almond, creating an intriguing dialogue between gentle sweetness, freshness and minerality. 

This tension builds and resolves through the minute-long finish, supported by deep structure and mouth-filling intensity.