Winemaker Notes
The 2017 “The House” Cabernet Sauvignon Batch was crafted with minimal interference in both the vineyards and the cellar. Traditional winemaking includes extended skin maceration, aerative pump overs and nearly 2 years of French Oak aging. On the nose, the power and tenacity of the aromas are unmistakably new world character, but when tasted, this wine is the ultimate expression of a big Napa Cab. Plush core of concreted flavors, massive and well-structured tannins coat your entire palette with a satiny mouthfeel. The flavor spectrum is wide from start to the end of its very long finish, ranging from black fruit, dried violet, mocha, black tea and cigar.
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.