III Rows was founded in 2013 by Michael Casadaban, Clay Chandler and Rawleigh Fisher. All three doctors are from Louisiana and met at LSU while they were doing their residencies. All partners are serious wine collectors; Michael and his wife Holly began drinking Merlot as an alternative to beer, Rawleigh’s grew up around wine as his father maintained a significant collection of Bordeaux wines and Clay has perhaps the most diverse palate of the three individuals.
The three couples first scheduled a trip to Napa Valley more than 20 years ago. One important tradition was established early on. Bartender Chris Kennedy worked at Bouchon Bistro for many years; he was a man of few words. But through numerous visits, Michael got to know him. He remembers his first visit to Bouchon Bistro; he asked Chris for a Bloody Beer. Chris hadn’t heard of this drink so Michael explained its ingredients including beer, a raw egg, salt, tomatoe juice and lemon juice. Chris said, “This is California, you aren’t getting a raw egg”. But then Michael placed a certain denomination bill on the counter and Chris said, “I’ll be right back”. Now, a seasoned tradition is prior to the start of every trip to Napa Valley – Michael visits Bouchon Bistro, places the same denomination bill on the bar and is always given a Bloody Beer – these days, an homage to Chris who passed in 2020.
Over time, these trips continued to grow in size, eventually including as many as 16 couples and, on one occasion, nearly 70 people traveling together to Napa Valley. They would visit wineries, meet restaurant managers and spend plenty of time enjoying wine, partying and having fun. As the years passed, more and more people at wineries in Napa Valley began asking them when they were going to start their own wine brand. Bryan Toy, the former Director of Hospitality at Caldwell Vineyard was among those who encouraged them, essentially asking, why aren’t you guys doing something yourselves?
Eventually the three friends began to take the idea seriously. Toy helped arrange interviews with three different winemakers. Michael recalls he and his friends were already spending so much money on wine that creating their own label began to make sense. The third winemaker they interviewed was Kent Jarman. They met him for the first time at Lewelling Vineyards (since 1864, this is the oldest continuously same family owned and farmed vineyard in Napa Valley), with the interview conducted among the vines. There was an immediate back-and-forth conversation and after about five minutes, Michael asked Kent where he was from. Kent told him Louisiana and that he had graduated high school in Baton Rouge.
The number three seemed to keep appearing throughout their story: three best friends, three wives and ultimately the third winemaker they interviewed. After hearing that Kent was also from Louisiana, the partners told him they would like him to be their winemaker. As they all walked through into the vineyard, Kent pointed to three rows of vines and told them, “Welcome to your three rows. We will start with these three rows of Cabernet Sauvignon.” The name III Rows resonated among the partners – their first vintage was 90 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon from Lewelling Vineyard.
The partners asked Kent to produce a classically minded portfolio including Cabernet Sauvignon, a red blend, Pinot Noir and a Sauvignon Blanc. These wines are meant to be enjoyed with friends and family. They focus here is not on producing ‘cult’ like wines with ‘cult’ like pricing. Kent has made every vintage of the III Rows wines.
Kent works with a variety of vineyards and has introduced the partners to special sites including Radian Vineyard in Santa Barbara for their Chardonnay.
If one were to summarize Kent’s wines, one word would suffice regardless of varietal or vintage, and that is balance. This is a consistent characteristic throughout his wines, with the fruit, acidity, texture and structure working together rather than any one element dominating.
Michael considers winemaker Steve Reynolds one of his greatest mentors in the world of wine. Michael and Holly first met Steve at an event at a restaurant in Baton Rouge where Steve was showcasing his Reynolds Family wines. Michael recalls tapping Holly on the shoulder, asking her if he should tell Steve that he is also a dentist. He approached Steve and said something like, “I want to do what you are doing”. Steve paused and said it is a lot of work and you might want to rethink your plan.
The launch party for III Rows was held at the Jessup Cellars tasting room in Yountville; they graciously offered their space for this event. And as Michael was waiting for guests to arrive, the first person who walked in the door was Steve Reynolds.
Michael called Kent in 2013 with the intent to tell him that they had already sold out of their first vintage. But before he mentioned this, Kent began to explain that it would probably take them a year or two to sell through the wine. Michael cut him off and said, “We are out of wine.” Kent was surprised that a new brand had already sold out of their inaugural vintage. As the years passed production grew slightly but they always sold out to a strong base of supporters in Louisiana, Texas and Florida.
Along the way, Michael also helped reintroduce Kent Jarman into Louisiana, introducing his wines within the right circles. Eventually, Kent recognized how much III Rows was growing and told them, “You guys are getting big enough; I think you need a Napa Valley presence.” That ultimately led to them hiring a dedicated local salesperson who also hosts visitors for tastings in Napa Valley.
Through a shared last name but no relation, Rawleigh Fisher got to know the Fisher family of Fisher Family Vineyards. This is where the III Rows wines are made.
III Rows is built upon Napa Valley pedigree but is firmly rooted in Louisiana. Michael sells wine one glass at a time; he recognizes the power of these personal transactions and interactions, with each one providing an opportunity to build a relationship. Wine has introduced him to so many amazing people within the wine business, far removed from his medical career. His philosophy is simple: surround yourself with people who love wine and you are surrounded by good people.
Select Wines
Reds
Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2023 III Rows Cabernet Sauvignon (Circle R Ranch & Vineyards, Atlas Peak) is deep ruby and opaque; the heady and layered bouquet offers a diversity of aromatics including darker fruits and a savory side. This wine smells brambly including of blackberry and raspberry along with Satsuma plum, dark mulberry, boysenberry and black currant. And adding an intriguing element are the non fruited elements here included old cedar box, dried sage and bay leaf. Kent’s trademark balance is clearly evident in this bottling – an equal tension between flavor, acidity, texture and alcohol. This wine tastes like blackberry, dark plum, dark cherry, boysenberry and Persian mulberry. And a note of sage. Finishes with well integrated tannins (both in terms of this particular vintage and from a mountain site), that linger with a light gravelly and dusty character. And a finishing note of dried tobacco leaf. Finishes bright and savory. Would like to try this again in the 8-10 year window. The first wine bottled under III Rows from Circle R Ranch was in 2020. The grapes for this bottling are from Cougar Block (17B-2) at an elevation of 1,500 feet.
Circle R Ranch & Vineyards dates back to 1864 when it was purchased by William (a Civil War veteran) & Dorinda Clarke from the state of California. The ranch is nearly 1,200 acres with much of it preserved in its natural habitat through deeded conservation easements. The property is located off of Atlas Peak Road, sitting in the southern half of Foss Valley at an elevation of approximately 1,500 feet. Circle R Ranch & Vineyards was purchased by the current owner, Peter Read, the former CEO of Grocery Outlet Bargain Market in 2015. Peter’s father James founded Cannery Sales in San Francisco in 1946, the precursor to what would eventually be called Grocery Outlet Bargain Market. Another family member co-founded Read Investments in 2014; that company currently owns or manages more than 2.5 million square feet of commercial real estate in California, Oregon and Washington.
75 acres are currently planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, with additional acres already permitted to be planted in the future. The ranch does not make wine under their own label, rather sells grapes to a diversity of producers including Alpha Omega, Chappellet Winery, HALL Napa Valley, Raymond Vineyards and Seven Apart, among others. In addition to growing grapes, cattle, goats, and sheep graze the ranch on a seasonal and yearly basis.
Red Wine
The 2022 III Rows Red Wine is a Right Bank inspired blend of Merlot (Kenefick Ranch in Calistoga) and Cabernet Sauvignon (Circle R Ranch in Atlas Peak). This wine is deep ruby and nearly opaque; the fruit is front and center and higher toned, offering scents of raspberry, red cherry, dried rose petals, currants and a light kiss of old cedar box. This wine tastes a union of red and darker fruits including cherry, Satsuma plum, boysenberry, dark mulberry and black currant. It finishes savory, a union of fruit, bright acidity, smoked cedar and dried herbs. Soft across the palate in terms of texture, the broadly dispersed tannins are felt with a rounded and light gravelly character. The oak sits in the background providing a comfortable presence and never a dominating one. This wine shows particularly well at 4 years post vintage and stays firmly far from being an overripe expression.
Whites
Sauvignon Blanc
The 2024 III Rows Sauvignon Blanc St. Helena Napa Valley is medium gold in color; one word jumped out upon smelling the bouquet, pretty. Its scents include pineapple with a hint of pina colada, pineapple guava, white nectarine, pepino melon, beeswax, vanilla, comise pear, passion fruit and a light herbal and citrusy element but not greenness, reminding you that this is Sauvignon Blanc. this wine tastes like gooseberry, passion fruit, honeydew melon and pineapple guava with lingering herbal spices including a note of grapefruit pith. This is a softer and rounded expression in terms of texture with a mouth feel sporting a loose and rounded texture but buoyed by the bright acidity so that it never feels heavy. Kent enjoys Sauvignon Blanc that is aged for 5-7 months in neutral French oak barrels after the wine is fermented in stainless steel. And the wine becomes more pretty as a result – holds the acid and rounded mouthfeel well.
The first white wine produced by III Rows was in 2014, also a Sauvignon Blanc.
III Rows used to produce a rose bottled under LINH, an acronym for, “Like it never happened”. 2023 was the last vintage of LINH.
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Total production each year is approximately 650 cases. The majority of their wines are sold in the Southeast USA including through a combination of tastings and other wine related events, primarily in Louisiana. Locally, select vintages may be available at The Q Restaurant & Bar in downtown Napa. For more information or to join their membership program, the KREWE of III ROWS with shipments in the spring and fall, visit: www.iiirows.com
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