Meadowcroft Mt. Veeder Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
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The 2015 Mount Veeder Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is an excellent match for short ribs braised in red wine, panroasted veal chops with cabernet sauce, or a hanger steak with pommes frites.
Other Vintages
2020-
Suckling
James
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Suckling
James
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Suckling
James
Meadowcroft Wines are vineyard specific and limited in production, expressing both European wine heritage and California creativity. Meadowcroft is the namesake of Winegrower Tom Meadowcroft. The meaning of Meadowcroft is a fertile field or meadow and croft refers to a cultivated area that has been nurtured over time. The honeybee on the label symbolizes this conscientious work and the process of transformation from wine grapes into an outstanding wine.
“My hope is to create wines with a Sonoma pulse that express the complexity found in European varietals,” says Tom Meadowcroft.
With over thirty-five years of experience in viticulture and winemaking, Tom Meadowcroft knows dirt. Or better yet, soil. He can easily judge what makes a vineyard great. He enjoys discovering farmers with small vineyards throughout California that are producing amazing grapes and interesting varieties. He’s quick to identify these little-known gems and produce extraordinary small production wines.
Tom’s passion for wines stems from his experiences growing up, working and traveling in Europe and the United States. Early in life, he began his journey in winemaking by working the harvest of 1979 in Bordeaux. Following that harvest he studied at UC Davis and Napa College graduating with a degree in Viticulture and Enology. After earning his degrees, he worked in Napa and Washington State as a vineyard Manager focusing on sustainable farming and environmental advocacy. Throughout his career, Tom has managed dozens of properties for top wineries in Napa and Sonoma, all along instilling core principals relating to wine cultivation from the growing of wines to the making of the wines. These experiences inspire his vision for the Meadowcroft Wine he proudly makes today.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Centered at the peak for which it is named, Mount Veeder is Napa’s largest sub-AVA. But even though the entire appellation spreads over 16,000 acres, vineyards cover a mere 1,000. Scattered among Douglas firs and bristlecone pines, Mount Veeder vineyards extend south from the upper elevations of the Mayacamas Mountains—the highest point at 2,400 feet—to the border of the Carneros region. Less than 25 wineries produce wine from Mount Veeder fruit.
Winemaking began early in this appellation. In 1864, Captain Stelham Wing presented the first Mount Veeder wine to the Napa County Fair; it came from today’s Wing Canyon Vineyard. Prohibition, of course, halted winemaking and viticulture wasn’t revitalized until the founding of Mayacamas Vineyards in 1951 and Bernstein Vineyards in 1964.
The Bernstein Vineyards was actually home to the first Petit Verdot in California, planted in 1975. Today most of the Petit Verdot in Napa Valley originates from this vineyard.
Rocky volcanic clay and ancient seabed matter dominate Mount Veeder soils—perfect for Bordeaux varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot enjoy spectacular success. These varieties produce wines rich in brambly blackberry and black cherry fruit with herbal and floral aromatics. Structures are moderate to assertive and wines have great staying power.
Chardonnay from Mount Veeder is lush, full and balanced mineral and fresh citrus flavors.