Crocker and Starr Wine is built on one of the most historically significant pieces of ground in St. Helena, a property with continuous agricultural use stretching back to the 19th century and deep associations with some of the most important names in Napa Valley history. Charles Crocker, a descendant of the railroad baron of the same name, is the land steward and custodian of the Dowdell Lane property. Pam Starr, one of California’s most respected winemakers, brings a career of producing precise, site-driven wine to the partnership. Together they produce a small portfolio of estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends that reflect both the historic quality of the property and the precision of modern winemaking.

Historical Ground and a New Partnership

The Dowdell Lane property in St. Helena has a documented agricultural history stretching back well into the 19th century, when the Napa Valley was first being developed for commercial viticulture. Charles Crocker, whose family connection to the California railroad era gives him a particular relationship to the state’s history, understood the significance of the ground he was stewarding when he connected with winemaker Pam Starr to develop a formal wine program. Starr had built her reputation at Merryvale Vineyards and then at Crocker and Starr as a winemaker of exceptional precision and restraint, favoring elegance and structure over extraction and power. The Crocker and Starr wines reflect both the historical depth of the property and Starr’s insistence on balance and freshness as the primary virtues.

The Dowdell Lane property has been farmed continuously since the 19th century, and Crocker and Starr are its most careful stewards yet.

St. Helena Terroir and the Estate Vineyard

The Dowdell Lane property sits in St. Helena, one of the most storied wine-growing districts in Napa Valley. St. Helena benchland soils, deep alluvial loam with good drainage over clay subsoil, support excellent Cabernet Sauvignon development in a warm but not extreme climate. The property includes historic vine plantings alongside more recently established blocks, giving the winemaking team a range of vine ages and row configurations to work with. The estate is farmed with minimal intervention, relying on the natural fertility and drainage of the soil rather than chemical management to maintain vine health and balance.

The Wine Portfolio: Estate Cab and Bordeaux Blends

Crocker and Starr produces a limited range of estate wines from the Dowdell Lane property. The St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon is the flagship, built to show the depth and elegance of the specific site rather than the broad power that some Napa Cabs pursue. Stones and Bones is a Bordeaux-style red blend that incorporates Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec alongside the Cabernet Sauvignon base, adding aromatic complexity and textural layering. The portfolio also includes a small-production Sauvignon Blanc from estate white blocks. All wines are produced in small quantities from estate-grown fruit only.

Food Pairing at Crocker and Starr

The precise, elegant character of Pam Starr’s winemaking at Crocker and Starr produces Cabernet that pairs well with a wide range of preparations without requiring the richest and heaviest food companions. The St. Helena Cab works alongside roasted lamb, duck confit, grilled beef tenderloin, and preparations involving aged hard cheese. The Stones and Bones Bordeaux blend, with its Franc and Merlot contributions, is particularly versatile at the table, pairing well with lamb in all preparations, duck, and lighter red meat dishes where you want aromatic complexity alongside the fruit. The estate Sauvignon Blanc is a natural match for oysters, goat cheese preparations, and herb-forward seafood dishes.

Crocker and Starr Wine: Frequently Asked Questions