Nose
This wine is offering fantastic primary aromas of rich, ripe red-berry fruit. I find undertones of sweet vanillin oak and hints of caramel.
Palate
On the palate the wine is massive, with a wonderful core of fruit on the full mid palate. The balance of the wine from front to back is impeccable, and the finish is long and carries the fruit beautifully.
Growing Conditions
Located in the Rutherford AVA, our Tietjen Vineyard produces Cabernets that are rich, ripe, and elegant. The well-drained soils are composed of gravel, loam and sand with volcanic and marine influences. These components create the signature flavors of Rutherford Dust that this region is famous for.
2014 was another wonderful wine-growing season in Napa Valley. A true classic. A wet February gave way to a characteristically dry spring. Except for slight heat spikes in June and then again in July, the weather remained consistent throughout the growing season. The accumulation of heat during the summer led to a slightly early harvest. The sunny weather through to October allowed the grapes to develop more phenolic and flavor maturities with sugar levels remaining steady. The 2014 vintage repeated many of the blessings that came in the 2012 and 2013 vintages, from the deeply colored and velvety grape skins and brown seeds, to fully ripened grape tannins, and a wonderful natural balance of brix and acidity.
6 barrels produced.
Aging
Aged 26 Months in 50% new French Oak barrels.
