Located on Howell Mountain is the estate vineyard that produces Selah, a small, secluded site surrounded by tall pines and patches of forest. As with many Howell Mountain vineyards that sit above Napa Valley’s fog line, the site’s high altitude translates into cooler daytime temperatures and warmer evening temperatures than are experienced on the valley floor, and the extended growing season usually begins and ends a few weeks later.
The three-acre vineyard is situated on the soil series known as Aiken, one of the most desirable soil types in Napa Valley. These soils are volcanic and derived from weathered rhyolite, which consists of compacted volcanic ash, cobble and other deposits. They’re extremely well-drained, and the overall topography at the site, which is divided into three distinct blocks, offers the best of both worlds: upper slopes (Blocks 2 and 3) which feature minimal topsoil, plus a gradual slope down to Block 1, where shallow soil deposits on top of rhyolite result in a more loam-like consistency. The blocks’ differing soil types are further accentuated through the use of different clonal material.
Cabernet ENTAV Clone 337 (Blocks 1 and 3) is a French clone which first made its way to California in the late 1980s. Although it is the second most widely planted clone in France, it wasn’t used in Napa Valley much until the mid-1990s; since then it has become a very widely planted clonal selection.
Cabernet Sauvignon Clone FPS 7 (Block 2) is thought to be a domestic clone, but it was likely imported from Bordeaux to California in the late 1880’s and planted in 1904 at the Concannon Vineyard in Livermore. Because Concannon made “altar” wines during Prohibition, Clone 7 survived; it was sought out by the University of California in the late 1960s and made available in 1970. It has since become one of the most important Cabernet clones in California and is one of the most widely planted and reliable clonal selections today.
It should be noted that both rootstocks require minimal water. Furthermore, Clark Vineyard Management employs deficit irrigation in the vineyard to promote small berry size, reduced yields, and maximize wine quality.
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