The Wine
We fermented the grapes using only yeasts that naturally occur on the grapes and allowed the wine to gain flavors and color from extended skin contact. Each lot is aged separately for several months, and then blended to create a wine that is more complex than the individual parts. After blending, the wine spent another year and half in barrel to completely harmonize before bottling. This is an elegant wine with rich aromas of black berries, black licorice and a hint of cocoa powder. Velvety smooth, it’s the perfect partner with grilled steak, rack of lamb or roasted duck.
Vintage
The 2007 vintage was almost perfect for grapes with a long, dry growing season. The warm spring brought early budding and bloom, followed by a relatively cool summer that allowed even ripening on the vine and then a heat spike at the end of August that jump-started harvest. Because we received only 60 percent of our normal precipitation, the grapes were smaller, reducing yield but giving us concentrated flavors.
Vineyard
Our Yountville vineyard provides the heart of our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, with our Rutherford and Calistoga vineyards rounding out the blend. All vineyards are certified organic and Biodynamic. Biodynamics is a holistic farming practice that uses the earth’s cycles and natural preparations to grow balanced, healthy vines without artificial fertilizers, pesticides, or fungicides. The result is a full-bodied, elegant Cabernet Sauvignon with pure flavors and a pronounced sense of place.
