Bevan projects

[cherylfoil]

Arthur - What a nice find!! I hope you can save 1 of the 2009 to compare to our 2019 Morisoli Cab! We’re in the process of blending it now. Jacob Franklin is now its own project, head up by Jake Coursen himself. You can find their upcoming releases at https://jacobfranklinwines.com/

Zachary - Just replied to your e-mail. Looking forward to making this right!

[David_Bu3ker]

Cheryl,

Is the 2018 Morisoli Cab for sale yet, or not until this fall? Saw your photo of it on IG, and was immediately tempted to buy!

[Michael_S]

Does anyone have a list of all Russell Bevan’s projects? I’m a big fan of his wine.

I’m also interested in how certain projects are different/unique, as many seem to source from the same Vineyards.

Bevan Cellars
Tench Vineyards (winemaker)
Lerner Project (winemaker)
PerUs (winemaker)
Adversity Cellars (owner?)
Institution Winery (winemaker)
Harbison (winemaker)

Seems like he is also adding Melanson Vineyard and Erba Vineyard to his stable.

Andrew, great question and some nice conversation in this thread about additional projects with which Russell is involved. Through the 2020 vintage here is what I know:

Bevan Cellars (winemaker/co-owner)
Tench Vineyards (winemaker)
Lerner Project (winemaker/partner)
PerUs (winemaker)
Adversity Cellars (winemaker/co-owner)
Institution Winery (winemaker)
Elyse Winery (winemaker)
Addax Wines (winemaker)
Harbison (winemaker)
Chase Cellars (winemaker)
Napa Jack Winery (winemaker)
Erba Vineyards (winemaker)
New CA sparkling project with Weston Edison (winemaker/partner)
There’s a new kosher wine project where Russell is the consulting winemaker. The project is yet to be named and started with the 2020 vintage.

(Edited name of CA sparkling project)

[Shay_A]

Does anyone have a list of all Russell Bevan’s projects? I’m a big fan of his wine.

I’m also interested in how certain projects are different/unique, as many seem to source from the same Vineyards.

Bevan Cellars
Tench Vineyards (winemaker)
Lerner Project (winemaker)
PerUs (winemaker)
Adversity Cellars (owner?)
Institution Winery (winemaker)
Harbison (winemaker)

Seems like he is also adding Melanson Vineyard and Erba Vineyard to his stable.

Andrew, great question and some nice conversation in this thread about additional projects with which Russell is involved. Through the 2020 vintage here is what I know:

Bevan Cellars (winemaker/co-owner)
Tench Vineyards (winemaker)
Lerner Project (winemaker/partner)
PerUs (winemaker)
Adversity Cellars (winemaker/co-owner)
Institution Winery (winemaker)
Elyse Winery (winemaker)
Addax Wines (winemaker)
Harbison (winemaker)
Chase Cellars (winemaker)
Napa Jack Winery (winemaker)
Erba Vineyards (winemaker)
Supernova (CA sparkling project - winemaker/partner)
There’s a new kosher wine project where Russell is the consulting winemaker. The project is yet to be named and started with the 2020 vintage.

A few quick notes:
-If you are referring to Jack Winery up on Atlas Peak, the winemaker there is actually Grant Long Jr
-Supernova is owned by Weston Eidson (owner and winemaker for Silver Ghost Cellars and Montagu Wines), and Weston is also the winemaker. I know there is a new sparkler project debuting in the next year where Weston & Russell worked together, so maybe that is what you were referring to

[Michael_S]

A few quick notes:
-If you are referring to Jack Winery up on Atlas Peak, the winemaker there is actually Grant Long Jr
-Supernova is owned by Weston Eidson (owner and winemaker for Silver Ghost Cellars and Montagu Wines), and Weston is also the winemaker. I know there is a new sparkler project debuting in the next year where Weston & Russell worked together, so maybe that is what you were referring to

Shay:

1. No, I’m not referring to the winery on Atlas Peak

2. Russell and Weston are working on a sparkling project. It’s always been referred to by Russell as Supernova. With that being said, we usually don’t let truth get in the way of a good story within our org

[Shay_A]

A few quick notes:
-If you are referring to Jack Winery up on Atlas Peak, the winemaker there is actually Grant Long Jr
-Supernova is owned by Weston Eidson (owner and winemaker for Silver Ghost Cellars and Montagu Wines), and Weston is also the winemaker. I know there is a new sparkler project debuting in the next year where Weston & Russell worked together, so maybe that is what you were referring to

Shay:

1. No, I’m not referring to the winery on Atlas Peak

2. Russell and Weston are working on a sparkling project. It’s always been referred to by Russell as Supernova. With that being said, we usually don’t let truth get in the way of a good story within our org

Hi Michael,

1. Ah cool, didn’t know there was another producer by a similar name. Not familiar with Napa Jack.

2. Supernova is meant to be its own “brand”, and the new project will be its own brand and has a different name (I only know this because Weston is a very close friend and we met up and shared some wine the other evening). Regardless, it’s very exciting after having tried some samples of the sparklers to see what they’ve created!

[Michael_S]

2. Supernova is meant to be its own “brand”, and the new project will be its own brand and has a different name (I only know this because Weston is a very close friend and we met up and shared some wine the other evening). Regardless, it’s very exciting after having tried some samples of the sparklers to see what they’ve created!

Shay, thanks for the heads up. I’ve edited my original post to reflect this. I know that Russell is incredibly excited about the project.

Cheers,

Michael

[ClydeUnderwood]

I had a taste of the 2018 Elyse Morisoli Zin at the winery on Sunday. It was terrific. I will definitely be buying when they release it in the fall.

[David_Bu3ker]

I had a taste of the 2018 Elyse Morisoli Zin at the winery on Sunday. It was terrific. I will definitely be buying when they release it in the fall.

I had a bottle last year, when they offered it in a pandemic relief pack. Seriously sexy stuff for a Zin!

[J_Rock]

I had a taste of the 2018 Elyse Morisoli Zin at the winery on Sunday. It was terrific. I will definitely be buying when they release it in the fall.

I had a bottle last year, when they offered it in a pandemic relief pack. Seriously sexy stuff for a Zin!

I also had a bottle last year, but have been hesitant to give my opinion, because I’m not sure how it will be taken. However, as long as we’re discussing the wine I might as well share that while I typically don’t care much for Zin, I think the 2018 Elyse Morisoli Zin (consumed last year) is a great wine. I feel that it’s more refined and polished than what I typically experience with Zin, and that goes a long way with me. It’s just hard for me to know whether I should confidently recommend this to Zin lovers, since I normally have no desire to drink Zin.

[David_Bu3ker]

I had a taste of the 2018 Elyse Morisoli Zin at the winery on Sunday. It was terrific. I will definitely be buying when they release it in the fall.

I had a bottle last year, when they offered it in a pandemic relief pack. Seriously sexy stuff for a Zin!

I also had a bottle last year, but have been hesitant to give my opinion, because I’m not sure how it will be taken. However, as long as we’re discussing the wine I might as well share that while I typically don’t care much for Zin, I think the 2018 Elyse Morisoli Zin (consumed last year) is a great wine. I feel that it’s more refined and polished than what I typically experience with Zin, and that goes a long way with me. It’s just hard for me to know whether I should confidently recommend this to Zin lovers, since I normally have no desire to drink Zin.

I can certainly see that, and I don’t really see it as a negative. Zin is a pretty darned flexible grape, and a number of different styles have been “in favor” over the years. I never thought I would see Russell Bevan working with Zin, but if I had imagined it, the Morisoli turned out precisely how I might have seen it. Zinfandel hits the red carpet, but is still wearing cowboy boots and a big hat.

[MChang]

I’ve liked the earlier elyse wines I’ve had so excited to receive these bevan made ones.

[ClydeUnderwood]

I’ve liked the earlier elyse wines I’ve had so excited to receive these bevan made ones.

I had the Elyse 2017 Morisoli zin on Sunday also and it was quite different than the fruit forward 2018. The 2017 (not made by Russell) was a much more old school, traditional style. On the other hand they also poured me some 2019 Morisoli zin and it was like the 2018 on steroids. If I remember correctly Josh said the 2018 was 50% new oak and the 2019 was 100%. Maybe it will change a bit with more bottle time, but I’d want to taste it again before buying.

I also had the Elyse 2018 Le Corbeau (Sonoma County) Syrah and it was quite good. It apparently has some Moaveni Syrah in it. Russell has made Syrah previously with that (Bennett Valley) vineyard and it is stellar. The 2018 is not released yet, but I’ll be a buyer of it for sure.

[cherylfoil]

The 2018 Le Corbeau is predominantly sourced from the Jemrose vineyard, which is another Bennett Valley vineyard both Josh and Russell have worked with for years. But, Moevani is an ongoing part of our Syrah programs and will be a large component in future Le Corbeau releases. (“Ode to M” Moaveni Syrah is one of my favorite wines!) We have grown in the vineyard. As of 2021, we will be working with 85% of Moaveni.

Our wine club clients evaporated the 2018 Corbeau, but the 2019 will be released in the fall along with our 2018 Zins and Cabs.

The 2019s are definitely not for the faint of heart! Russell chose to create a 100% new oak barrel-select of 2019 Morisoli Zin called “Zieger block” that may require a surgeon general’s warning. We are also making a few 19 Zinfandels with a small (very small) amount of restraint.

[Zachary_Mancini]

The 2018 Le Corbeau is predominantly sourced from the Jemrose vineyard, which is another Bennett Valley vineyard both Josh and Russell have worked with for years. But, Moevani is an ongoing part of our Syrah programs and will be a large component in future Le Corbeau releases. (“Ode to M” Moaveni Syrah is one of my favorite wines!) We have grown in the vineyard. As of 2021, we will be working with 85% of Moaveni.

Our wine club clients evaporated the 2018 Corbeau, but the 2019 will be released in the fall along with our 2018 Zins and Cabs.

The 2019s are definitely not for the faint of heart! Russell chose to create a 100% new oak barrel-select of 2019 Morisoli Zin called “Zieger block” that may require a surgeon general’s warning. We are also making a few 19 Zinfandels with a small (very small) amount of restraint.

Sent you an email .

[ClydeUnderwood]

I should’ve also mentioned that Josh told me on Sunday that Elyse will be taking the majority of St. Peters Church zin in the future. It’ll be VERY interesting to see what Russell does with that!

[FMansfield]

I can answer part of this! I am one of two owners of Elyse, Addax, and Institution. My partner Josh Peeples has worked with Russell since Russell made the Jacquelynn/Chateau Boswell wines in the early 2010s. Unlike most of his other brands, but very similar to Chase Cellars, we have our own winery so we also have our own cellar team to pay attention to our barrels every day under Russell’s watch. Those that have barrel tasted with Josh over the past 25 years know he loves to be involved in the winemaking process, even if the best thing for an owner to do on a given day might be helping powerwash during harvest so the team can get more sleep.

Elyse has been a “friendly neighborhood winery” of Napa Valley since 1987. We have been stewarding the brand with Russell starting with the 2018 vintage. Unlike the rest of the list, Elyse is mostly at the $35-$85 price point with only a few exceptions. Elyse has 30 years of history of its own vineyard history, so while Russell’s signature style will shine through, everything under this brand is very different in terms of vineyard sourcing from his other projects. Most exciting for us is the zin and cab from Morisoli Vineyard in the Rutherford Bench, since Morisoli Zin was Elyse’s first release. We are nearly caught up on vintage cycles and will be releasing the majority of our 2018s this fall.

Addax has been around since 2010, and starting with the 2019 vintages this year, a large focus of Addax will be on vineyard-designate Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays (Silver Eagle, Rued, Ritchie, and so much more I wish I could share!) We do produce a handful of bordeaux blends from Addax, but over the next few years you are going to see some more obvious differences in that program as well since many new vineyards have been sourced for it starting in 2018.

Institution is our newest project, and is simply meant to be our ultimate creative exercise in cab. Josh gives Russell no minimum production amounts, and the entire cellar is up for grabs for barrel selections even though we have several vineyards we think/hope will make the project each year. Most barrels don’t make the cut and instead contribute to making our upcoming 18 Elyse Napa Valley Cab at $55 an extremely good value (or so we hope! We shall see soon .)

Erba Vineyard is split between only Institution and Adversity - I was lucky enough to try Russell’s beautiful Adversity 2019s a couple weeks ago. The energy and focus that Russell has put into creating his Adversity wines is so clear. He loves this project, and I simply hope he’ll save me some of the Syrah he’s releasing in Fall.

Chase is definitely one to try if you have not yet - and now they even have their own Hayne Cabernet.

On his other projects, I’ve never found the wines to taste similar, but maybe I’m too close to it because I know what pain it is to try to inventory barrels in a cellar Russell controls… Russell ferments everything in tiny, tiny lots - sun exposure, soil subsections within the block, elevation changes, you name it, and blends with all of that in mind. Each client or wine has their own sections of the vineyards. The same way that BC Calixtro (my favorite!) is different from BC Tench and BC Tench EE, Lerner’s Sugarloaf is distinct from Bevan Sugarloaf.

If I was gifting someone a set of wines, I’d probably do Bevan Cellars Calixtro, Lerner Sugarloaf, Chase Bourn Gold Strike, and Adversity Melanson.

Thanks for that rundown, Cheryl. I’m looking forward to trying the 2018s from Elyse - cabs and zins - when they get released.

Ditto!

[seanr]

I should’ve also mentioned that Josh told me on Sunday that Elyse will be taking the majority of St. Peters Church zin in the future. It’ll be VERY interesting to see what Russell does with that!

This sounds like a recipe for awesome…

[Josh_Grossman]

I just got an email for the Elyse mailing list. One of the offerings was:

2018 Elyse Proprietary Red Wine
Russell went ham in the cellar and blended together whatever Bordeaux varietals fit his vision. This is a very intense wine. We barely have enough of this to cover the club, so this is the best time to grab it if you are interested.

Can’t find out anything more about this wine. It isn’t in Cellartracker nor their website. Any ideas?

[David_Bu3ker]

I just got an email for the Elyse mailing list. One of the offerings was:

2018 Elyse Proprietary Red Wine
Russell went ham in the cellar and blended together whatever Bordeaux varietals fit his vision. This is a very intense wine. We barely have enough of this to cover the club, so this is the best time to grab it if you are interested.

Can’t find out anything more about this wine. It isn’t in Cellartracker nor their website. Any ideas?

I had the chance to try some of the 2018 Elyse wines ahead of time, and didn’t even get a crack at this. I doubt many (any) have had it yet.