2023 Kemperberg Reserve Norton

Tasting notes

How it tastes

The Kemperberg Reserve Norton is a bigger, richer expression of Norton wine. The vineyard site consistently imparts spicier and earthier fruit elements than our other Norton sites, which this wine showcases very nicely. While having rich black currant, blackberry and plum notes, the wine expresses cigar box aromatics that make it quite mesmerizing.

Through the extended barrel aging, the wine has a smoother tannin profile and a richness that will continue getting better with age. Drink now, or age it for 20 years or more.

The wine

About this wine

This bottling is the first time we have released a Norton solely sourced from our Kemperberg Vineyard. Replanted after Prohibition in 1966, the vineyard consistently produces fruit with richer spice and earthier, broody fruit. It rounds out our vineyard designated Nortons alongside Cross J and Old Vine Reserve.

The Kemperberg Vineyard sits on the site of the acclaimed pre-Prohibition Hermann Grape Nurseries owned by Edward J. Kemper. When phylloxera threatened Europe’s wine industry, Kemper shipped thousands of cuttings of resistant vines across the Atlantic, helping save their vineyards. His nursery sold vines across the United States and became famous for its specialty, Norton grown from cuttings.

The vineyard is special to our family as one of the first sites Jim and Betty Held planted to vines after restarting Stone Hill Winery. We proudly continue to farm these vines.

Harvested in October 2023, this 100% Kemperberg Vineyard Norton was fermented on the skins and aged 20 months in hand-selected second-fill, third-fill and neutral barrels: two French oak and five American oak.

Read the story of Norton, Missouri’s state grape