Nestled at the base of the Mayacamas in Napa Valley’s revered Oakville bench is a hidden gem — M-Bar Ranch, a historic 13-acre vineyard once owned by Mondavi and now shared between Round Pond and Araujo. Surrounded by icons like Harlan, Martha’s Vineyard, Missouri Hopper, and To Kalon, this site quietly rivals them all.
From our 10-acre share, we select just two exceptional blocks to craft the Secret Garden Cabernet Sauvignon — a 100% Oakville Cabernet that consistently earns 95+ scores. Thomas Rivers Brown has called this site one of the best in Napa.
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This is the most concentrated wine we produce, yet it’s never about power alone. It’s a study in elegance and restraint — silky, refined, and quietly commanding. A wine that speaks softly, but leaves a lasting impression.
Accolades
“… a total knockout. Sumptuous and layered, the 2023 is all class…. this fruit is from M-Bar Ranch, one of the hidden jewels of Oakville.”
— 97 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
““… another stunning effort from this estate… It’s full-bodied and has a concentrated mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish.”
– 97 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Notes
A deep garnet color in the glass, aromas of bold black fruit, tobacco leaf, and sage are accented by a floral hint of rose petal. Beautifully integrated flavors of blackberry, blueberry, plum and currant spread across the palate with notes of star anise and mocha on the finish. Balanced structure and elegant acidity make this an impressive wine that will continue to age wonderfully over the next 20+ years.
Technical Information
Winemaker: Thomas Rivers Brown & Jeff Plant
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Source: M-bar, the Oakville Bench estate property
Aging: 20 months in 85% new French oak
Production: 12 barrels
Vintage Notes
The 2023 season brought a triumphant end to our three-year drought, with nearly 30” of rainfall revitalizing our soil profiles and fostering robust, healthy canopy growth. As one of the mildest vintages in the last decade, the year provided an ideal, extended “hangtime.” This slow ripening allowed for full flavor development, leading to wines with remarkable aromatic complexity and depth.
Our commitment to quality continued by hand in the vineyard; as soon as the fruit set after flowering, our teams began extensive canopy management. By carefully opening the vines to full sun exposure, we ensured the fruit achieved maximum concentration and the most expressive flavor profile possible. We believe the 2023 vintage will be remembered as a classic, and we are proud to share the results of this extraordinary season with you.
Vineyard Notes
M-Bar Ranch Vineyard, Oakville
Nestled between Harlan Estate and Dominus Estate, the soil of our Oakville site lies on a gravelly base overlaid with alluvial soils washed down from the Mayacamas mountain range. This site experiences more maritime influence, with the fog layer lingering later in the morning and arriving earlier in the evening, leading to slightly cooler days and nights. These mild conditions produce wines with an elegant flavor profile and structure.
Hear from our Winemaker, Jeff Plant, and Estate Sommelier, Scott Tracy, as they highlight how the distinctive soils, microclimates, and geography of our M-Bar Ranch vineyard in Oakville result in the creation of Secret Garden Cabernet Sauvignon.
Gravel Series Membership
Gravel Series Membership offers access to the highly allocated, small-production Gravel Series Cabernet Sauvignons while they are still in barrel through an automatic, recurring futures reservation.
Futures allocations occur three times annually in Spring (Secret Garden), Summer (The Vow), and Fall (Scholars Gate). Wines ship upon release in October of the following year.
To explore this rare opportunity to become a Member of the Gravel Series Membership, please contact our Gravel Concierge. This exclusive membership is extremely limited.
gravelconcierge@roundpond.com | 707.302.2515