Delectus

Reisacher is the owner of Delectus, a Napa Valley producer who started his winery in 1995 and quickly developed something of a cult following, particularly for the expressive and bold vineyard designated wines produced mainly from Napa Valley fruit. Reisacher comes from a family that has been making wine in Austria for almost 200 years. Put another way, Reisacher’s family was tending grapes and producing wine outside of Vienna, Austria long before there even was a “California”.

So, you have to love a man who was willing to leave behind that kind of history to come to California to make wine after, as he explains, “tasting numerous wines from the region” and recognizing that “they were entirely unlike anything I’d tasted before in European wines.”

Gerhard’s journey took him to a succession of top Napa Valley wineries where he learned the “California Approach” to winemaking including Monticello Cellars, Far Niente, Pine Ridge Winery and Clos Du Val. All this, and a particular fondness for the idea of vineyards’ unique expressions, led to the creation of Delectus in 1995.

The star at Delectus is the amazing “Sacrashe Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon. Produced from a vineyard located 800 feet up in the hills east of the town of Rutherford, the Sacrashe Vineyard is quite tough on the vines. In fact, the poor things struggle to produce even a miniscule 1.8 tons of grapes per acre. But what grapes they are. The tiny berries are intense and loaded with ripe, bold flavors that translate into wine of similar character in Reisacher’s hands. The Sacrashe Vineyard Cabernet isn’t just a pretty young face. This wine ages marvelously and is transformed over time into a lush, complex beauty.

It’s mostly red wine at Delectus with issues of other Cabernets, Petite Syrah and red blends. These are not his fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers, or great-great-grandfathers wines. These are full throttle, Napa Valley bottlings.

While we can’t say for sure, it seems that Gerhard’s family must have been disappointed when he chose California over Austria. Yet from these wines it’s clear he took the path suited to his disposition. Nothing else can explain the inspiration these wines display.
 

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This vendor is located at 2545 Napa Valley Corporate Drive, Napa, CA, 94558.