Guests gathered at MWM Wine School for an intimate tasting hosted by Reilly Keenan, third-generation steward of Keenan Winery, offering a glimpse into one of Napa Valley’s enduring family-owned estates.
Established on Spring Mountain in the late 1970s, Keenan Winery has long been known for wines that reflect the character of mountain-grown fruit — structured, age-worthy and defined by freshness rather than excess. Through four wines spanning Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the tasting highlighted the consistency of a philosophy that has remained remarkably unchanged across generations.
The 2021 Chardonnay opened with notes of orchard fruit, citrus and subtle pastry nuances, while the 2019 Merlot showed the variety’s hallmark generosity layered with mountain freshness and savoury depth. The Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2019 brought greater structure and intensity, revealing blackcurrant, tobacco, cedar and graphite, before it concluded with the ‘Mernet’ Spring Mountain Proprietary Red 2019
, a polished blend combining concentration, complexity and finely integrated tannins.
Throughout the tasting, Reilly shared stories of growing up among the vineyards first planted by his grandfather, Robert Keenan, offering a perspective that extended beyond winemaking to the values and continuity that have shaped the estate for nearly five decades.
A wonderful night of conversation, discovery and wines that continue to speak eloquently of their mountain origins.
#KeenanWinery #SpringMountainDistrict #NapaValley #FineWine #AltayaWines