Martin Ray
2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
, Rutherford
Napa Valley

94 Points, James Suckling
90 Points, Wine Enthusiast

Kirsch, ripe plum and bramble with an undercurrent of star anise and toffee.  Earthy, with wild blueberry and classic dusty character, balanced by fine tannins and fresh acidity.  Known for its own unique terroir, this bottling sets a standard for depth and structure with classic tertiary notes of herbaceous earth and classic Rutherford dust.  Very drinkable now and will only get better with time in the cellar.

This wine was made by none other than Keith Emerson, YES that Keith, of the glorious $200+ wines he made for Vineyard 29 among others.

VINEYARDS

Grapes picked 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

Classic, labor-intensive, small-lot winemaking techniques implemented.
Four-day cold-soak, hand punch downs for two weeks in open top fermenters. Aged in 60% new French oak for 18 months.

VINTAGE

The culmination of factors from another drought year in California surprised us with a beautiful vintage.  An unseasonably dry and mild winter, which led to an early spring, forced the vines into bud break during peak frost season.
A relatively warm, but even summer, resulted in early harvest dates, with lower-than-average yields with good quality.

Consulting Winemaker:  Keith Emerson
Vintage:  2021
Varietal Composition:  100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation:  Rutherford, Napa Valley
Aging:  Aged in 60% new French oak for 18 months.
Brix:  25.9
pH:  3.77
TA:  0.59 g/100ml
Alcohol:  15.1%

Tasting Notes  PDF

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