Winemaker Notes
The chassis is constructed from low yield, concentrated hillside clusters of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc aged in 100% new French oak. Toasty, smoky oak spices, chocolate, clove and caramel aromas jump off the line. Racy black currant and Turkish coffee flavors are smooth on the track, with super-wide tannins providing tenacious grip through the twisties. Great mileage too! 150 cases produced.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Tightly wound, intense and vibrant, with great detail to the dried currant, mineral, sage and cedary oak flavors, this full-bodied Cabernet is pure and focused, if a bit closed and restrained. The finish reveals all sorts of detailed flavors that are long and persistent. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2017. 150 cases made.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.