98-Points by Wine Enthusiast.
The 2019 vintage of Aurora Vineyard is a wine of finesse and elegance and is characterized by its broad palate that begins at entry and follows through to a stunning and lengthy finish.  To create this seamless wine, the vineyard was harvested several times over a two week period.  The fruit was manually selected berry-by-berry and then fermented in both stainless tank and wood barrels, creating numerous wine lots with subtle but distinct nuances.  The 2019 vintage offers classic Aurora aromas and flavors of wild blackberry, cassis, candied cherry and vanilla, cinnamon, and clove.  A stunner.
MARTHA MCCLELLAN | WINEMAKER
Martha McClellan worked making the wines at Harlan Estate from 1995 through 2000.  In 2001 she took over the winemaking and vineyard direction at Sloan Estate, the renowned Napa Valley winery, where she continues to make the wines today.  She also oversaw vinification for several years at Blankiet, while starting Levy & McClellan with her winemaker husband Bob Levy.  In 2006 she came to Checkerboard Vineyards and made the first vintage from the Aurora Vineyard site on Diamond Mountain. 
 
Aurora Vineyard is nestled in a small valley midway up Diamond Mountain on a large knoll located at an elevation of 1,200 feet. The knoll projects off the mountainside, giving the vineyards full Southern exposure and open light from the East and West and protection from Napa Valley's summer fog. Six acres of the vineyard are planted in the knoll's rich, volcanic soils that are riddled with basalt cobble in a loamy red clay. The remaining six acres are planted in a deep gravely mix of white volcanic ash and chips of decomposed Rhyolite that were washed down from the steep, rocky crags of Diamond Mountain above.