Davies Winfield Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
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In 1965, Jack and Jamie Davies began reviving the historic Schramsberg winery property in Napa Valley. They challenged conventional ideas and relied on innovation to craft the first world-class, American, méthode traditionelle sparkling wines produced from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In the 1990s, a second generation of the Davies family undertook replanting the estate on Diamond Mountain to red Bordeaux varieties, and J. Davies Estate Cabernet Sauvignon was launched with the 2001 vintage. In 2014, the family released the compelling and balanced 2012 Davies Vineyards single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, a logical evolution based on over 40 years’ experience with cool-climate Pinot Noir sites and grapes in the North Coast.
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.