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Robert Parker Wine Advocate
2011 Dana Estates Lotus Vineyard – Precision Cabernet from Napa's Rugged Hillside
The 2011 Dana Estates Lotus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon offers a fascinating look into a cool-climate vintage interpreted through one of Napa Valley’s most meticulously farmed sites. Perched above St. Helena, the Lotus Vineyard is carved into volcanic bedrock, producing wines of formidable structure and tightly wound energy. Dana Estates, founded by Hi Sang Lee with Philippe Melka as winemaker, has developed a reputation for crafting expressive, age-worthy cult Cabernets from singular Napa terroirs.
Tasting Notes
This 2011 vintage reveals its cool growing season through lifted aromatics of blackcurrant, graphite, and dried lavender. The palate is firm, with savory layers of crushed rock, black tea, and charcoal-tinged blackberry. While brooding in structure, the wine retains a remarkable linearity and freshness, showcasing deft winemaking in a challenging vintage. Tannins are tightly integrated, giving it a long, focused finish that rewards decanting or further cellaring.
Winemaking & Vineyard Details
The Lotus Vineyard sits on volcanic soils, rich in basalt and iron. Vines are managed with intensive precision, allowing for slow ripening and low yields. The wine is composed entirely of Cabernet Sauvignon, fermented in small tanks with native yeasts and aged for 20 months in 100% new French oak. The 2011 vintage required even more stringent selection, with only the most pristine lots making it into the final blend.
Investment & Collectibility
Dana Estates’ production is extremely limited, and single-vineyard bottlings like Lotus represent some of Napa’s most serious collector offerings. The 2011 vintage, often overlooked due to its climatic challenges, is proving to be a sleeper hit with long-term potential and remarkable transparency. Perfect for your collection if you value refinement over sheer power.
Vintage Insights
2011 was marked by a cooler-than-average growing season and a wet harvest. However, sites like Lotus, with rocky soils and excellent drainage, fared better than valley floor locations. The result is a wine of restraint and mineral complexity—a contrast to the riper vintages that bookend it. It is aging slowly and gracefully.


