Winemaker Notes
Inviting aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant and plum are accented by notes of violet, black olive and a hint of madrone. Dense color suggests its mountain origin, and the palate echoes the aromatics along with flavors of peppercorn and Bay. The wine has a gentle entry and a balanced mid-palate, the result of 18-20 months in French oak. At this stage of development, the wine shows impressive structure and potential. Firm tannins and signature Spring Mountain acidity provide shape and structure to the wine. This vintage will age well over several decades. In its youth, decant 1-2 hours before service. Drink 2018 – 2033.
Blend: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 3% Syrah, 2% Malbec
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Opulent with spice and crisp notes of bright plum, toasted oak, and generous berry fruit; intense and long from an 845-acre estate with just 225 acres planted to vine.
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Wine Enthusiast
From the producer's high-elevation, 225-acre site on Spring Mountain, this is mineral in crushed rock and sanguine characteristics, with a hit of graphite and black licorice. The fruit is subtle, a mix of black currant and plum wrapped in contrasting notes of cedar and mocha. Medium-bodied, it shows structure and elegance. Editors’ Choice
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.
Above the town of St. Helena on the eastern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains sits the Spring Mountain District.
A dynamic region, its vineyards, cut by numerous springs and streams, vary in elevation, slope and aspect. Soils differ throughout with over 20 distinct types inside of the 8,600 acres that define the appellation. Within that area, only about 1,000 are planted to vineyards. Predominantly farmed by small, independent producers, the region currently has just over 30 wineries.
During the growing season, late afternoon Pacific Ocean breezes reach the Spring Mountain vineyards, which sit at between 400 and 1,200 feet. Daytime temperatures during mid summer and early fall remain slightly cooler than those of the valley floor.
Spring Mountain soils—volcanic matter and sedimentary rock—create intense but balanced reds with lush and delicate tannins. The area excels with Bordeaux varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot and in some cooler spots, Chardonnay.