Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Hundred Acre owner-winemaker Jayson Woodbridge describes Wraith as the perfect snapshot of a vintage, defined by a blend of all three of his estate single vineyards—Ark, Few and Far Between, and Morgan’s Way. Aged for 40 months in extremely fine, centre-cut French oak barriques with ultra-tight graining, this wine captures the essence of each vineyard while forming a cohesive whole. 'Every vintage of Hundred Acre has a thread that connects it to the first', Woodbridge tells me as I taste this wine, 'Weaving the fabric of each new vintage, Wraith is like a time machine, revealing each vineyard’s unique characteristics in a singular expression. You can sense all three vineyards merging into one entity, creating the masterpiece that is Wraith.' If you were to taste all three Hundred Acre wines, then Wraith, you might pick out the umami-rich character of Few and Far Between, the red-toned, zesty mineral character of Ark, or the brooding muscularity of Morgan's Way. Still, above all, that unmistakable complex fabric of Hundred Acre is evident in each sip. The 2021 Wraith is coiled up, seductive, and red berry-driven, with loads of black truffle and earthy notes. It’s like the Burning Man of wine—rip-roaringly insane, full of energy, magic, and mystery. Yes, there’s plenty of red and blackberry fruit, laced with currants and sweet spices, but the floral nuances and dried perfumed aromatics elevate this wine to something otherworldly.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Red, blue, and black fruit, graphite, darker chocolate, sappy tobacco, and spring flowers all define the aromatics of the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Wraith, which comes from a blend of multiple vineyards. It's deep, rich, and powerful, yet also weightless on the palate, with silky tannins and a blockbuster of a finish. The idea with Wraith is to highlight the vintage as opposed to a site, and this beauty can be enjoyed any time over the coming 20-30 years.
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.