Description
VINTAGE
A cool start to the 2020 growing season brought on slow even ripening with enough rainfall to generate reservoirs to establish a strong root system. Mild spring weather made for an extended bloom and a later set, the conditions were ideal – more sunshine, mild temperatures, and no winds. Clusters saw little shatter, making for uniform set. The fruit continued to ripen during the summer months and kept the vineyard team busy managing canopy growth. Veraison continued over an extended period, allowing for balanced fruit development while maintaining bright, fresh, clean fruit flavors.
VITICULTURE
The fruit used to craft this full-flavored Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from mid to upper valley sub-appellations. Superb vineyards are the foundation of this Cabernet’s consistency and complexity. Comprising a diverse range of terroirs, these top Napa Valley sub-appellations each lend a range of unique influences, yielding distinctive and dramatically different flavors and structures that have dense, dark berry fruit characteristics and relatively high acidity. Some AVA’s include:
- Oak Knoll: The climate is moderate to cool with marine air and fog often remaining until late morning; afternoon breezes frequently occur, maintaining slightly cooler temperatures than up-valley.
- Rutherford: The climate is moderately warm, influenced by early morning fog; usual summer peak temperatures are in the mid-90 range, averaging a bit warmer and higher base elevation than Oakville.
- Calistoga: Daytime summer temperatures may peak above 100 degrees F and fall to low 40s at night, due to cool marine air drawn into the valley from the northwestern hills.
- Oakville: Temperatures are affected by night and early morning fog creating a day-to-night temperature fluctuation. The east side hills receive warm afternoon sun while the west side cools as the sun sets.
WINEMAKING
A careful pursuit of perfection underlies each step taken to craft this Cabernet Sauvignon. Grapes from each vineyard were fermented separately, yielding an array of distinct characteristics. Hillside fruit contributed firm tannins, while fruit from lower elevations brought plush, rich flavors. A rigorous barrel program matches each lot to the type of oak best suited to enhance it. Lots for the 2020 vintage matured in different types of barrels; each barrel was chosen for an ability to impart a subtle range of flavors. After undergoing malolactic fermentation in barrel, followed by 17+ months of aging, the lots were evaluated blind. Multiple trial blends led to the final cuvée, which includes a small amount of Merlot to strengthen the mid-palate and other traditional red wine blenders to skillfully distinguish this Cabernet’s poised, layered structure.
