Winemaker Notes
Boysenberry, black cherry, and violet notes wrapped in vanilla, caramel and toasty oak. Round, silky-rich mid-palate, cocoa powder and black tea textures on the finish.
Located at the base of Spring Mountain on the west side of St. Helena, this vineyard has been farmed by the Bartolucci family for three generations. With its well-drained soil and gentle slopes, this vineyard is perfect for growing Cabernet Sauvignon.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Aromas of lead pencil, graphite and juicy plum and cherry form the core, giving this complexity. Given the supple tannins, this is an easy-to-enjoy offering. Best from 2020 through 2032.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2014 Honig Cabernet Sauvignon from the Bartolucci Vineyard has history on its side. Not just because of three generations under the family care, but because of the attention that the Honigs have given to this wine. TASTING NOTES: This is as excellent of a Napa Valley Cabernet one can find, especially in this price bracket. Its aromas and flavors of impressive, bold, generous ripe fruit and the right accent of oak are expansive and lasting on the palate. Pair it with a well-aged beef steak. (Tasted: April 9, 2019, San Francisco, CA)
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James Suckling
Aromas of currants, chocolate, almonds and moss. Subtle and aromatic. Medium to full body, medium chewy tannins and a flavorful aftertaste. A delicious and subtle 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.
St. Helena is in the heart of the Napa Valley, nestled between Calistoga to the north and Rutherford on its southern border. On its western side, the Mayacamas Mountains guard it from the cooling effects of the Pacific Ocean; to its east stand the Vaca Mountains. In conjunction, these mountain ranges serve to lock in summer daytime heat. But in the evening, cool air from the San Pablo Bay funnels up through the valley, creating very chilly nights. It isn’t uncommon for temperatures to drop 50 degrees, a shift that promotes a balance of sugar ripeness and acidity in wine grapes.
St. Helena contains a plethora of different soil types in a small area, which have been enhanced over centuries by rain runoff from both mountain ranges. Its vineyards cover a variety of terrain, spreading across the bucolic valley floor and its benchlands.
These ideal topographic and climatic growing conditions easily caught the attention of early winemaking pioneers. In fact, St. Helena is the birthplace of Napa Valley’s commercial wine industry. Dr. Crane founded his cellar in 1859, David Fulton in 1860 and Charles Krug in 1861.
Today there are no less than 400 separate vineyards planted within the 12,000 acres that make up the St. Helena appellation.
Revered most for its red wines based on Bordeaux varieties, namely Cabernet Sauvignon, the St. Helena appellation is also a source of superior Syrah, Zinfandel and Sauvignon blanc.