Description
Tasting Notes: Our 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon features a vibrant mélange of black cherry, black currants, cedar, and dried violets. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a distinct silkiness throughout, plus a touch of minerality that adds freshness and depth. There’s a sense of grace and liveliness to this wine. The finish is laser focused with refined length and whispers hints of dark chocolate and blackberry.
Winemaking: The 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is made in a classic style. Harvested in the cool hours of the night, grapes arrive at the winery by 7am and we begin processing immediately. Destemmed and manually berry sorted, only the best fruit makes it to tank. We gently pump the must to achieve some berry breakage – which allows for upfront color and tannin extraction. The tanks are kept in cold soak phase at 55 degrees for 5 days and then allowed to warm up naturally. Fermentation commences and typically lasts 2-3 weeks. A series of pumpovers is performed daily. Time on skins varies from 25-35 days depending on vintage conditions and varietal. Once the wine is ready for pressing, it is gently drained off the skins in the afternoon and pressed in the morning. The skins are removed from tank and put into the press. Free run and press wine is aged separately in a mixture of new and neutral French and Hungarian oak barrels. After 14-15 months of aging separately, the wine is blended and then returned to the same barrels to harmonize for another 6 months before bottling.
Vintage: The 2021 growing season started off with little rain, leading to a second year of drought conditions in Napa Valley. Dry, warm conditions persisted throughout the growing season and well into September. Due to lack of water in the soil, canopies and clusters were smaller – leading to below average yields. Luckily in terms of quality, low yields translate to intensely flavored, small berries with concentrated textural components – ideal for premium winemaking. Harvest was on the early side of normal, but the pace was even and the weather mild. The quality of the
vintage has serious age-worthy potential.
Varietals: 92% Cabernet, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Zinfandel and 1% Petite Sirah
