Meyer Family Cellars Fluffy Billows Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
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After three years of aging, the ’16 vintage has lived up to the ripe, luscious, fruit-forward character we expected all along. Aromas of deep, red-black fruits combine with hints of tobacco and cedar, giving way to a lively palate. A concentrated, juicy core of cassis, blackberry, and red currant is framed by firm, but polished, tannins, the result of a phenomenal vintage. Two years in French oak have added complex layers of cooking spice and cedar to balance the abundant fruit. This Oakville site consistently allows us to produced structured, ageworthy Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2016 is a wine that will improve for a decade or more in the cellar, but—as with past vintages it is quite approachable now.
Blend: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Other Vintages
2017-
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One of the state’s iconic wine brands, Meyer Family Cellars occupies a unique place in the story of California wine. It was established in 1987 by Silver Oak founders and former owners Justin and Bonny Meyer, who dreamt of a family wine brand that drew upon their extensive experience in the Napa and Alexander Valleys.
Today Meyer Family Cellars is in the capable hands of co-winemakers Matt and Karen Meyer. Their approach to winemaking mirror the unique position of their product. While their wine incorporates “old world” balanced acidity and minerality with "new world" ripeness and forward fruit, similarly, Matt and Karen apply the wisdom gleaned from family history while welcoming new ideas into the process.
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.
Home to some of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon in America, Napa Valley’s Oakville district stretches across the center of Napa's valley floor and foothills between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. This AVA is home to the legendary To Kalon Vineyard and Martha's Vineyard, as well as many powerhouse wineries including Screaming Eagle, Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Far Niente and Groth.
The climate is generally warm and agreeable, resulting in year after year of favorable vintages. Summer days see a gentle tug of war between warmer inland air and the cool air coming in from the San Pablo Bay, creating an ideal environment to grow red varieties. Oakville's diverse soils, namely ancient sea bedrock, clay and gravel, are well-drained, and perfect for high-caliber viticulture.
Cabernet here is often bottled varietally but is also popular in Bordeaux Blends. Oakville wines are known for their silky, sensual textures, structured tannins, dark and brooding fruit and lovely aromatics. These age-worthy and prestigious wines are favored by collectors throughout the world.