Winemaker Notes
To Kalon Vineyard Company’s Eliza’s cuvée is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, two varieties that best showcase the strength and spirit of this historic site at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains. This blend produces one of the most compelling examples of Napa Valley wine, with the Cabernet Franc bringing exotic spice notes and floral aromas, and the Cabernet Sauvignon providing weight, structure, and a deep, rich, black fruit character. The combination is rare and uniquely To Kalon—a wine that is effusive and exuberant now, but one that will age for decades to come. 2018, the first vintage offering of this wine, is already being recognized as a benchmark year in the Valley.
Blend: 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2018 Eliza's Red Wine (60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Cabernet Franc) is more blue-fruited, with pretty floral nuances, medium to full-bodied richness, silky, ultra-fine tannins, and incredible balance. It brings plenty of richness and depth, but it's the purity, complexity, and finesse that really drive the cuvée. It too is going to have two decades of longevity and is another magical wine.
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Wine Spectator
Lush, yet with cut, this delivers a broad and deep set of warmed cassis and plum reduction flavors, along with violet, sweet bay leaf and menthol hints, all carried by a strong loamy note underneath. A long, piercing iron accent cuts through at the very end, lending this a sense of reserved energy.
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James Suckling
A new red from half cabernet franc and half cabernet sauvignon, with crushed berries, flowers and hints of lead pencil, stones and coffee beans. Full-bodied with layers of soft, creamy tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Juicy and savory. Bigger wine. Drinkable now, but better in 2025.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Eliza's Red Wine is a roughly 50-50 blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, named after the widow of John Yount. It's slightly floral and herbal, in a good, complex and savory way, with those elements nicely accenting its cherry and cassis fruit. In the mouth, it's medium to full-bodied, silky and smooth, more elegant and complex than the Highest Beauty, with terrific length on the finish. Best After 2023.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Home to some of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon in America, Napa Valley’s Oakville district stretches across the center of Napa's valley floor and foothills between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. This AVA is home to the legendary To Kalon Vineyard and Martha's Vineyard, as well as many powerhouse wineries including Screaming Eagle, Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Far Niente and Groth.
The climate is generally warm and agreeable, resulting in year after year of favorable vintages. Summer days see a gentle tug of war between warmer inland air and the cool air coming in from the San Pablo Bay, creating an ideal environment to grow red varieties. Oakville's diverse soils, namely ancient sea bedrock, clay and gravel, are well-drained, and perfect for high-caliber viticulture.
Cabernet here is often bottled varietally but is also popular in Bordeaux Blends. Oakville wines are known for their silky, sensual textures, structured tannins, dark and brooding fruit and lovely aromatics. These age-worthy and prestigious wines are favored by collectors throughout the world.