Beautiful now and will age gracefully for another 7-10 years... that is if you can wait that long. Start the grill and bring on the meats.
VINEYARDS
Sourced from volcanic benchland vineyards in the heart of the valley east of the Mayacamas range. Perfect growing conditions, with lingering fog and warm daytime highs develop complex fruit due to an extended ripening period. This prolific vineyard was carefully planted for optimal sun exposure in soil composed of gravel, loam and volcanic deposits.
WINEMAKING NOTES
Employing classic, labor-intensive, small-lot winemaking techniques. Four-day cold-soak, hand punch downs for two weeks in open top fermenters. Aged in 60% new French oak for 18 months.
VINTAGE
Record-setting rain and cooler temperatures lengthened dormancy, with first signs of budbreak mid-march. Hotter than average days in June and July brought harvest mid-August with lower than average yields across all varieties.
Consulting Winemaker: Keith Emerson
Vintage: 2017
Varietal Composition: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Napa Valley
Aging: Aged in 60% new French oak for 18 months.
Brix: 24.1?
pH: 3.66
TA: 0.56 g/100ml
Release Date: August 2020
Alcohol: 14.1%
95 Points
Rich and full-bodied, packed with dark fruit flavors of blackberry, ripe plum, and dark cherry. Notes of cocoa, cedar, and warm spice add complexity, while firm tannins and a touch of volcanic minerality reflect the bold characteristics of Calistoga’s terroir. Full-bodied in texture, and remarkably velvety. The tannins gracefully interweave, establishing a flawless equilibrium of acidity and pleasing fruit.
92 Points
Deep floral notes (violets), blackberry, black cherry, and cassis. Driven by the mountain's steep, cool-climate terroir, it balances rich notes of blackberry and pomegranate seamlessly intertwined with dark plum, cocoa dust, and roasted mocha, hints of roasted mocha and spice undertones add depth to its complex profile, culminating in a bold, yet elegant finish.
95 Points
This stellar Napa Valley Red Blend marries lush plum and cherry with Malbec's dark berry depth and Petit Verdot's structure and spice. Layered with notes of blackberry, violet, and cocoa, this silky wine finishes with smooth tannins and a whisper of toasted oak. Robust and mouth-filling, with spicy nuances, smooth tannins, firm structure, and a long lingering finish.
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