Winemaker Notes
Blend: 99% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The largest production cuvée is the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, which comes mostly from Calistoga (there's a small amount of Merlot and Cabernet Franc from Oak Knoll) and spends 16 months in roughly 20% new French oak. Its ruby/purple color is followed by a vibrant, juicy wine that has plenty of black cherry, blackberry, spring flowers, and graphite. It's medium-bodied, elegant and seamless, with terrific purity and a balanced, juicy style. It's beautiful, classic Napa Valley Cabernet to drink over the coming 10-15 years.
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 oldest wine growing subregions but last to gain appellation status, Calistoga occupies the northernmost section of the valley. Beginning at the foot of Mount St. Helena, its vineyards stretch over steep canyons and roll out onto the valley floor. The soils in Calistoga are volcanic, which means they are heavy in minerals, low in organic matter and allow good drainage for vine roots, creating less green growth and more concentration of flavor within the grape berries.
Summer days are very hot but most nights cool down with moist ocean breezes sneaking in over the Mayacamas Mountains or from Knights Valley to its northwest.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the area’s star variety with Zinfandel coming in a strong second, though the latter commands far less price per tonnage so continues to be outshined by Cabernet in vineyard acreage, save for some important exceptions.