The winner of this auction will receive a VIP Tour and Tasting for 4 at Arkenstone and 3 bottles of the 2012 Arkenstone Obsidian Cabernet/Bordeaux Blend, Sam Kaplan winemaker, awarded 97 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:

"The two blockbusters are proprietary reds, although certainly dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2012 Obsidian Proprietary Red is a 580-case blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot, Malbec and Merlot. A complex nose of spring flowers, white chocolate, black cherry and cassis as well as touches of blackberry and espresso is followed by a multi-layered wine with stunning concentration, seductive and sexy notes of low acidity, plenty of glycerin and sweet tannin. This is a full-bodied beauty that was aged 22 months in 100% French oak."

About Arkenstone

Arkenstone is an all Estate Winery located on the Western shoulder of Howell Mountain. Our 13 acres of vineyard, which overlook the Napa Valley to the West and Bell Canyon to the East, are split into 22 blocks planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Syrah. We go from 1,400 feet of elevation to 1,650 feet, with a mix of steep hillside and rolling level vineyard.

The majority of the vineyard was planted in 1998 and the entire vineyard has always been, and continues to be, organically farmed. Our wines reflect our terroir as well as our vineyard and winemaking practices. Arkenstone produces an Estate Cabernet blend, Obsidian (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec), a Graves style Estate Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blend and an Estate Syrah. We also produce our Coliseum Block Cabernet Sauvignon with fruit that we source from the Hossfelt vineyards's Coliseum Block in Soda Canyon.

Howell Mountain, with its volcanic, rocky soils, gives us incredibly small concentrated berries along with robust tannins, lush acidity and distinctive earthy, minerality. Our winemaker, Sam Kaplan oversees the vineyards as well as the winemaking and creates beautifully balanced wines with now characteristic Arkenstone depth and complexity.

During harvest we use gravity flow to move our fruit from the crush pad into fermentors 40 feet below in our underground winery caves. These grand caves house the fermentation hall as well as barrel storage and hospitality areas.

Tours through the vineyards and the exploration of our extensive winery caves give our guests a thorough overview of how our wines are crafted from vine to bottle. There is a true connection created between the sense of this beautiful place and the wine itself.

Tastings, of course, are part of this experience. Our tasting room setting allows our visitors to enjoy the seasons in the vineyards, moving from the soft green sea of just budding vines of spring to the full, lush growth of summer into the brilliant changing palate of fall colors, and finally, to the proud silhouettes of the winter vines at rest.

Whether you come during the warm summer days and evenings that draw us out into the vineyards or the cold, rainy days of winter tasting cozily by the fire, it is always the right time to visit the winery. We offer all of our tours and tasting by appointment. We invite you to come and experience Arkenstone.