Letterhead Wines

California

2018

Letterhead Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Calistoga AVA Single Vineyard

Calistoga

$80 USD

Release Price

Drink Window

14.7%

ABV

pH

TA

RS

Nose

Pronounced violet, rose petal, vanilla, coffee, and espresso bean notes with, red and black raspberries, red cherries, tobacco, and roasted walnuts.

Palate

Very fine tannins for a wine so young. Full-bodied, with pronounced flavor intensity, fresh acidity, and a long finish.

Growing Conditions

Sourced from a single-vineyard located near the base of Diamond Mountain in the western portion of the Calistoga appellation. Older vines are rooted in Gravelly loam soils with volcanic origins and alluvial influence in the form of water-rolled gravel and cobblestones. Calistoga is known for high daytime temperatures, but this vineyard is protected from the afternoon sun by Diamond Mountain to the west. Cool Pacific breezes also find their way through the vineyard, resulting in balanced, powerful Cabernet.

Winemaking

Grapes were picked by hand overnight, and
arrived at the winery by daybreak for sorting, followed by a three-day cold-soak. Fermentation with Williams Selyem yeast in stainless steel, followed by 30 days of gentle pump-overs three times daily. The free-run juice was separated from the pressed juice, in a combination of ICONE barrels from Seguin Moreau and Treuil French oak. After merciless sampling and blending, we decided that only the free-run wine was good enough for our final blend.

Aging

- 100% French Oak
- 25% New
- 25% 1 year old

Appearance

Purple, almost bluish on the rim. Deeply concentrated near-black in the center.

More from this Producer

Letterhead WinesLetterhead Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Calistoga AVA Single Vineyard

Our inaugural Letterhead release offers a true expression of a singular place and variety—Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Our 2018 release source is a world-class vineyard in Calistoga at the base of Diamond Mountain, a location with a storied past and proximity to some of Napa Valley’s most legendary producers. It’s a unique slice of land, where the Mayacamas and Vaca Mountains practically touch in the narrowest part of the Valley. Vines here are rooted in gravelly loam soils, rich in volcanic deposits interspersed with the well-draining alluvial fans of ancient riverbeds. Here, the grapes capture a unique snapshot of Napa terroir—combining rich flavors and structural opulence for a wine to enjoy now or in 35 years.

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