2021 The Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 3L

Each year we produce a small production of Cabernet Sauvignon that we feel captures the spirit of our estate vineyard in the rolling hills below Atlas Peak. These eroded volcanic soils yield wines that are very dark in color, intensely aromatic, varietally expressive, and loaded with soft tannins. During harvest, and even before, we identify those vineyard blocks that are destined to give us the purest expression of the vineyard. We keep these parcels separate during fermentation, and during the aging process, we continue to focus our attention on individual barrels from these lots that most excite us. In the end, we have a small bottling of pure Cabernet Sauvignon that we are very proud to share.

 In 2021, Mother Nature was very good to us. While it was the continuation of a multi-year drought in the Napa Valley, our vines were able to find the resources they needed to ripen a limited but balanced and intense crop. By harvesting at night, and carefully sorting the fruit in the winery, we were able to start the winemaking process with pristine raw ingredients. Careful handling of the grapes during fermentation and maceration, as well as aging of the wine for twenty months in new French oak barrels, helped the wine to gain richness and polish. Bottled without fining or filtration, the wine is dark and generous, with notes of black cherry, wild blackberry, flint, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The palate impression is deep, penetrating, and silky, with notable length. This is one of the most exciting wines we have made from the property that will surely age for many years in the bottle.