TwentyFour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
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The 2010 harvest was an exciting one that kept us on our toes by throwing a few curve balls to the valley. After three years on the dry side, we were relieved to have the much needed rainfall, even though it delayed bud break by a few weeks. The cloud cover that stuck around for the beginning of the growing season insulated the valley, eliminating any frost damage, which was an added bonus. Over the summer, temperatures were cooler than normal, dragging out the growing season and causing us all to be extra aware of canopy management so we didn't get surprised with mildew problems. However, thinned out canopies meant little sun protection when temperatures spiked to the triple digits in late August. We ended up dropping some fruit and spending extra time hand-sorting when we got it back to the winery. The extra effort was well worth it as the grapes that remained brought concentrated flavors with a lot of complexity that made one of our best wines to date.
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Wine Spectator
Offering distinctive black licorice and wild berry aromas, this is rich, dense and plush on the palate. Well-built and deftly balanced, this gains depth, holding a tight focus on the long, vibrant finish. The tannins are ripe and firm, giving the flavors traction. Drink now through 2023.
Charles Woodson discovered his appreciation for wine in 1998 when he arrived in Napa with the Oakland Raiders for training camp. He was intrigued when he noticed that everywhere he went people were enjoying a bottle of wine. It didn’t matter if it was an opulent dinner, low key lunch, or lazy afternoon. He was drawn to the fact that people seemed to slow down and come together over a glass of wine. Being the curious type, he not only wanted to participate in this ritual, he wanted to learn how to create it himself.
Early on in Charles’ time in Napa, he met Rick Ruiz who was working at Robert Mondavi Winery. Rick invited Charles to visit the winery and showed him around the cellar while explaining the winemaking process from start to finish. In that moment, Charles’ desire to actually make a wine was launched. The two worked together with another friend – who happened to be acclaimed international winemaker, Gustavo A. Gonzalez – to create the first barrel of TwentyFour. They produced a 2001 vintage Merlot that was used to support the various charities with which Charles is involved.
Charles not only solidified friendships in the process of learning how to make wine, he found a new passion. He wasn’t content to stop at just one barrel. Charles wanted to produce a second vintage of larger quantities that could be used for donations and still have enough for friends to enjoy. Today, the TwentyFour team is still working together. Gustavo is leaving his mark on the wine, Rick is managing the daily activities of production and Charles is traveling the country sharing his wine with fans and donating $10 of every bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon purchased online to the CS Mott Children’s Hospital & Von Voightlander Women’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan.