FUTO estate

FUTO Estate is one of the smaller yet most talked-about producers of Cabernet in the Napa Valley. The winery, situated in the western hills of Oakville, in close proximity to Harlan Estate, was founded by Tom and Kyle Futó and has earned a reputation for its clean, precise wines from the hillside vineyards, characterised by relatively small production volumes and cult status.

History

Tom and Kyle Futo moved from Wichita, Kansas, to Napa and purchased the Oakford Vineyards estate in 2002, adding a neighbouring plot in 2004. The first vintage was released under the FUTO label in 2004. Viticulturist David Abreu planted the vineyards, whilst Mark Obert produced the first wines, which immediately attracted the attention of collectors and critics. Architect Howard Baken designed the winery, the construction of which was completed in time for the 2008 harvest. Jason Expost, who previously worked at Château La Mondotte in Saint-Émilion, in New Zealand and Australia, as well as at Abreu in Napa, joined the team in 2008 and has been in charge of viticulture and winemaking since 2009. In 2011, Futo acquired a second estate in the Stags’ Leap district.

Vineyards and terroir

The Oakville estate covers 155 acres, of which around 14 are planted with vines. Most of the land consists of steep, wooded slopes at an altitude of approximately 300 to 500 feet, situated just above the valley floor. There are 26 separate plots spread across six locations, each with its own soil type, aspect and microclimate. The soil consists mainly of weathered sandstone and shale, formed from an ancient uplifted seabed. The Stags’ Lip plot adds a further 40 acres, of which around 8 are planted on terraced slopes that were once a quarry. The soils there consist of fissured rhyolite tuff – compacted volcanic ash that drains excellently. The older Merlot and Cabernet vines date back to 1982, whilst the more recent plantings date from 2015.

Grapes

Cabernet Sauvignon predominates on both estates, with small plantings of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, as well as a small plot of Sauvignon Blanc at Stags’ Lip. The focus is on Bordeaux varieties grown on the hillsides.

Winemaking

The vineyards are tended meticulously, block by block, with the team of viticulturists managing each plot according to their own principles. In the cellar, the approach is hands-off. Jason Expost said that with vineyards of such quality, he exercises more restraint than influence, allowing the fruit to take the lead. Production is small, which allows the team to work precisely and by hand.

Wines

The range is built around two estates. Oakville produces the flagship FUTO Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon and Oakville-based blends. From Stags' Leap comes the 5500 Cabernet Sauvignon, named after the address and the rarest in the range, with a production of just a few hundred cases in most vintages. Additional labels include CFX, Cabernet Franc, as well as Seta Red and Seta Blanc. Production volumes for all wines are very small, often just a few hundred cases per variety. The wines are refined and structured, with ripe but not overripe fruit notes, subtle tannins and the potential for long-term ageing.