Pilcrow Ghost Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
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The Ghost Block vineyard is a unicorn of sorts, being a ‘mountain’ vineyard on the valley floor. The old vines of Ghost Block sit on the side of Yountville Hill—a mountaintop that formerly resided high above the Stags Leap District in the Vaca Mountains. Some eight million years ago, in a cataclysmic event, a portion of the Vacas toppled, tossing a peak to the west. This relocated peak (Yountville Hill) got turned on its side, revealing a unique, vertical bedding of rarely-ever-exposed Napa Tertiary Volcanics. Ghost Block Cabernet Sauvignon interprets this soil construct with soft, plush tannins and nervous, bright acidity. Down-valley cool mornings add a touch of black tea and rose petal to the varietal traits of blackberry and cassis, all wrapped in old-Napa elegance. Organically farmed.
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Pilcrow Wines have managed to captivate a wide number of wine drinkers with their 'Old Napa' approach. Elegance, tension and transparency are some of the qualities that Sara Beer manages to deliver in every wine. This Ghost Block Vineyard Cabernet focusses its efforts on highlighting this mystical site. It was formerly a hill but ended up on the valley floor in Yountville, and the terroir showcases an array of Napa Tertiary volcanics, giving birth to this gem from the acclaimed 2016 vintage. In an effort to create an honest wine, Sara keeps the winemaking minimal, with no modern techniques. The wine is quite unique: a soft layer of rose petals and dark fruit is seamlessly complemented by vibrant tension and silky tannins.
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Each vintage of Pilcrow is to celebrate the humanity of craftsmanship through small-lot wines that value grace and thoughtfulness. As new vineyards, new varieties and new vintages present their unique selves, this resolve will remain the same. Terroir, in its most broadly defined sense, is a summation of the differences that exist between unique vineyards. The fine-wine ambition that drives Pilcrow makes the clear expression of terroir an absolute and an ideal. By looking for, caring for, and safeguarding the differentiating characteristics of each vineyard they stay alert, as vintners, to the exceptional possibilities of each wine.
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.
One of Napa Valley's most historic sub-appellations, Yountville spreads through some of the valley's ideal cooler sites and enjoys success with a handful of different and significant grape varieties.
Syrah competes strongly with Cabernet Sauvignon here for optimal vineyard real estate followed by Pinot noir, Pinot blanc and Sauvignon blanc.
This sub-AVA of Napa Valley is rich in the history that makes Napa Valley what it is today, and not just for red wines. Moët & Chandon entered the California winemaking business via Yountville in 1973 with the establishment Domaine Chandon. Their goal has always been to produce top quality méthode champenoise sparkling wines.
Christian Moueix, originally responsible for managing Chateau Petrus and La Fleur-Petrus in Pomerol, arrived in Yountville in the early 1980s. He formed a partnership with Rohin Lail and Marcia Smith, inheritors of Napanook vineyard from their father John Daniel of Inglenook in Rutherford. In 1995 Moueix became sole owner of Napanook and chose the name Dominus, which today produces some of Napa’s highest scoring, age-worthy Bordeaux Blends.