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Founded in 2016, La Pelle—meaning “the shovel” in French—takes its name from the most essential tool in both vineyard and cellar. The project was born from a collaboration between Silverado Farming Company and winemaker Maayan Koschitzky, whose background includes formative work with one of Napa’s most elite estates, Screaming Eagle, before emerging as one of Napa Valley’s most respected farming-driven winemakers.

Today, Koschitzky is also a partner at Atelier Melka, where he has been directly involved in crafting multiple 100-point wines and is known for a farming-first approach that prioritizes balance over excess.

Maayan explains the concept clearly: “The goal for La Pelle from day 1 was to be the closest to being an estate winery without needing to buy land and without being stuck to one vineyard. With this partnership, I could look into the Silverado Farming portfolio, cherry-pick specific sites and blocks I would like to source from, adjust farming to fit the winemaking, and create a unique portfolio.” His stylistic aim is equally intentional: “The philosophy is to make powerful wines without becoming too heavy, like some of the great wines from Napa of the 1990s. They have everything we love about Napa without being heavy and sweet.”

La Pelle continues to rise in prominence, and recent acclaim is pushing the winery firmly into the spotlight. The 2021 vintage ranked #17 on Jeb Dunnuck’s Top 100 Wines of 2024, a clear signal that this young project is already standing shoulder to shoulder with Napa’s elite.

The resulting wines are often described as old-school Napa Cabernet reimagined through a modern lens, characterized by structure, purity, and terroir focus rather than opulence or overwork.

2023 Napa Valley vintage isn’t just another great year – it’s the year that will be etched in history. Wine experts are calling it "the vintage of a lifetime," and for good reason. The perfect blend of cool temperatures, morning fog, and balanced sunlight created conditions so exceptional that they’re being compared to Bordeaux's iconic 1961 vintage. As The Wine Independent put it, 2023 is "a winemaker's dream in terms of wine style." Wine Bible author Karen MacNeil calls it "one of the most phenomenal vintages ever in Napa Valley."

2023 La Pelle Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley reflects this ethos through a precise, site-driven blend sourced from four distinct AVAs: Coombsville, Oak Knoll, Oakville, and St. Helena. By balancing fruit from these contrasting zones, the wine captures the vintage with clarity, energy, and unmistakable Napa Valley personality.

ABV: 14.5%

100% Cabernet Sauvignon. 

The nose is vivid and expressive, opening with blackberry, cassis, and dark cherry wrapped in violet, cedar, and a clean graphite edge. Hints of dried herbs, cocoa, and warm baking spice deepen the profile.

The palate delivers power with precision, driven by a vibrant core of black and blue fruit supported by fine-grained tannins and energetic acidity.

The finish is long and mineral-driven, carrying a subtle touch of French oak sweetness and a plush, polished texture that comes straight from the fruit’s intensity.

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon from five sites (Red Hen, Alluvium, Ceniza, Crocker, and Ashe) and aged 16 months in French oak, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is rocking stuff as well as a brilliant value. It has the purity of the vintage in its darker currant and cassis fruits along with graphite, lead pencil, and crushed stone. Medium to full-bodied, it has a pure, layered, graceful mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. Drink 2025-2045. ~ 97 Jeb Dunnuck

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