Nose
Presents a harmonious bouquet
that overflows with sweet plum, blueberry jam and dark black cherry, intertwined with
touches of mocha, allspice, sweet vanilla and sandalwood.
Palate
The palate is exquisitely
plush, filling the mouth with flavors of ripe raspberry, blackberry pie and juicy plum,
supported by a framework of smooth tannins and touches of toasted oak, dark baking
cocoa and spun caramel that remain through the long, elegant finish.
Growing Conditions
Only the finest blocks of the most outstanding fruit are selected
from our 160 acres of estate vineyards across the Napa Valley for this special bottling.
Every vintage, the appellation composition of this wine will vary depending upon the
performance and character of each vineyard. For 2013, the blend is composed of 69%
Stags Leap District, 20% Oakville, 7% Howell Mountain, 3% Carneros and 1% Rutherford
fruit.
2013 was an ideal season in Napa Valley, with dry
conditions and a long, sunny summer, allowing even ripening and yielding exquisite,
balanced fruit.
Harvest
The fruit for this wine was harvested at an optimal level of ripeness
in mid-October. The berries were hand-harvested at night, carefully sorted and
destemmed to tank, where fermentation took place.
Aging
Racked to 100%
new French oak barrels, where it was aged for 26 months prior to bottling.
Appearance
A stunning, deep ruby wine.
Food Pairing
With its captivating complexity and stellar balance, this Cabernet is the star
of any meal it accompanies. A substantial yet simple dish such as a dry-aged New York
strip steak with parmesan potato gratin and sautéed long beans would pair fabulously
with this wine. For a memorable cheese course, pair it with extra aged Beemster, a
nutty cow’s milk cheese from Holland.