Scarecrow (wine)

Scarecrow, historically the J.J. Cohn Estate, is a California wine producer. The estate is located in Rutherford, CA, within the Rutherford AVA in the Napa Valley AVA zone.

History

In 1943, Joseph Judson Cohn, an MGM executive producer of films such as ''The Wizard of Oz'' acquired the property of Rutherford land adjacent to Inglenook Winery founded by Gustave Niebaum.Murphy, Linda, ''San Francisco Chronicle'' (May 25, 2006)
The brains behind Scarecrow
/ref>Laube, James, ''Wine Spectator'' (May 15, 2008)
A Scarecrow With a Soul
/ref> In 1945 he was persuaded by his neighbor in charge of Inglenook since 1939, John Daniel Jr., to plant grape vines on his estate. were planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, and the fruit from the Cohn estate was sold to Inglenook.

In later years, the fruit from the J.J. Cohn Estate was sold to Opus One, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Robert Mondavi Winery and Beaulieu Vineyard. In 1990s, a vine pest Phylloxera led to most Napa vineyards being replanted, but the root stock at Scarecrow's fields survived. Cohn died in 1996 aged 100, and the heirs put the then property up for sale to resolve the inheritance dispute, and a value estimation at $4 million in 1996 rose to $33.6 million by 2002, when Francis Ford Coppola of the Rubicon Estate Winery eventually purchased the property in a package deal with Cohn's grandson Bret Lopez. Coppola got ca. including most of the vineyard with , while Lopez and his partner Mimi DeBlasio received the property buildings, 25 acres of partially planted vineyards and of the original 1945 Cabernet vines.

The wine's name was decided upon by Lopez and DeBlasio in honor of Cohn. Following the engagement of winemaker Celia Welch, the debut vintage of 2003 became successful,Bonné, Jon, ''San Francisco Chronicle'' (May 30, 2008)
The new cult wines: 6 wines to covet
/ref> while later vintages have rapidly established Scarecrow as a cult wine. The winery's second release sold out in 16 hours, and the following year sales were staggered, with repeat customers first on the list. SFGate said in 2008 that Scarecrow had a yearly output of around 400 cases, calling it a cult wine similar to the Screaming Eagle winery. At that time, it remained owned by Bret Lopez and Mimi DeBlasio. It had a mailing list of around 8,000 people, offering around 400 cases of the 2005 vintage that year for $150 a bottle.

At the April 2009 Premiere Napa Valley auction, a lot of five cases of Scarecrow was sold for $80,000.Crosariol, Beppi, ''The Globe and Mail'' (February 25, 2009).
The $1,300 bottle: Petrus? Nope, it's a Scarecrow
/ref> At the February 2011 Premiere Napa Valley auction, a lot of five cases of Scarecrow Wine was sold for $125,000, breaking previous PNV records. The lot was purchased by Ichizo Nakagawa, owner of Tokyo-based Nakagawa Wine Company.L. Pierce Carson, ''Napa Valley Register'' (February 26, 2011)

/ref> In 2017 at the Premiere Napa Valley wine auction hosted by Napa Valley Vintners, five cases of Scarecrow, dubbed Toto's Opium Dream Scene 4, the wine was Cabernet Sauvignon from 72-year-old vines. The lot ultimately sold for $200,000.

Production

The estate extends under vine, of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with 5.5 tons of fruit from the "House block", 2 tons from the "Hillside block" and 1.5 tons from the "Old Men block" planted in 1945.

A range of of Scarecrow may be produced annually.

Business model

Mailing list members are given priority, even over celebrity requests. Bottles are sold in resale for much higher prices.

Not open to the public, it at times opens for private visits from customers such as Ellen DeGeneres.

References

External links

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Wineries in California
1945 establishments in California