Winemaker Notes
Blend: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec
All the vineyards used in this wine are from well drained low vigor sites. Because these thin rocky sites drain away our spring rains so quickly the vines and their berries stop growing early in the season. Only the small berries produced from sites such as these can make wines intense enough to become our Reserve. The mountain top Atlas Peak and cool climate Coombsville and Carneros vineyards provide deep color and focused fruit while the Calistoga and Oakville blocks bring elegance and openly expressive fruit. All our vineyards require extensive hand work to manage correct shoot positioning, crop load and sun exposure. During harvest our winemaker spends 40% of his time inspecting and tasting our vineyards so that everything is handpicked at the peak of ripeness.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.