Heritage Cabernet

Description

VINTAGE

Napa Valley experienced another outstanding vintage in 2015 across all varieties. The unusually dry conditions in winter resulted in an early bud break and fruit set, pushing harvest dates up accordingly. Napa Valley’s typical weather conditions remained consistent throughout the summer – long, warm days and cool, breezy nights. Due to the dry conditions, the vines produced fewer clusters and smaller berries, resulting in refined, concentrated flavors, vibrant aromas and balanced acidity.

VITICULTURE

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.

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 2015 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 16 months of aging, the lots were evaluated blind. Multiple trial blends led to the final cuvée, which includes small amounts of inky, tannin-rich Petit Sirah and Merlot, which skillfully distinguishes this Cabernet’s poised, layered structure.

TASTING NOTES

The 2015 vintage continues our signature profile of a slightly softer, and approachable Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. This rich and refined wine doesn’t require years of further aging to achieve ideal balance and enjoy upon release. The full-bodied structure is a hallmark. The wine opens with stunning aromas of blackberry, black cherry and toasty scents; on the palate is concentrated with bold, velvety flavors of cassis, plum, blackberry and dried apple. Intense mouth filling fruit linger on the palate and end in a beautifully elegant finish.