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. The wine is named after Eliza Yount, one of Napa’s bestknown early pioneers, widow to the founder of nearby Yountville, and one-time owner of a quiet corner of To Kalon, on Walnut Lane, that is now home to our coveted planting of Cabernet Franc. 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.
Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Fresh, structured but rather light in feel for a full-bodied blend of 60% cabernet franc and 40% cabernet sauvignon. Good acidity matches moderate tannins in this almost gentle, delicious but age-worthy wine. Red and black fruit, mint and tobacco accents lead to a luxurious, lingering finish.
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Wine Spectator
Fresh, structured but rather light in feel for a full-bodied blend of 60% cabernet franc and 40% cabernet sauvignon. Good acidity matches moderate tannins in this almost gentle, delicious but age-worthy wine. Red and black fruit, mint and tobacco accents lead to a luxurious, lingering finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2028.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Vinified by Andy Erickson and blended by Tony Biagi, the 2021 Eliza's Red Wine is based on 59% Cabernet Franc and 39% Cabernet Sauvignon with a splash of Petit Verdot. Deep ruby-hued, it offers beautiful, complex aromatics of red and black fruits, chocolate, baking spice, camphor, and graphite.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A 550-case blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Eliza's Red Wine offers up hints of tobacco leaf and peppery spice allied to black cherries and loam. It's full-bodied and rich, with a velvety texture. A higher-toned, redder-fruit element emerges on the lingering finish.
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.