Palate
Earlier vintages of the Panek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon demonstrate generous
valley floor qualities like caramelized sugar and maple syrup, resulting from a mix
of red and black fruit. One striking difference is that the 2013 vintage is bigger and
more structured, owing to the preponderance of black fruit. This is still very much
a fruit-driven wine, but the impact of pure, dark fruit from small, thick-skinned
berries is considerable. This wine is the finest expression of the site thus far.
We believe it’s preferable for young Cabernet Sauvignon to show some tannin,
and valley floor wines deliver that in 2013—another hallmark of a best-ever
vintage. The Panek Vineyard Cabernet exhibits a bit of grip in the finish that
hasn’t been apparent before. Though we certainly wouldn’t discourage anyone
from enjoying it young, the 2013 definitely has a longer cellaring window than
its predecessors. While savoring your 2012 wine from the Panek Vineyard, your
2013 will only benefit from a year in the cellar to smooth out its back-end tannins.
Growing Conditions
If 2012 was an idyllic year for the Napa Valley, 2013 turned the region into
a full-blown Eden. Murmurings of “the best vintage ever” were neither exaggerations
nor wishful thinking. We had no concerns about the growing season other
than excessive heat, which at times just didn’t want to abate. The vines on the
valley oor never really shut down. Although some feared fruit was ripening too
fast or flavors wouldn’t be developed, neither proved true in the Panek Vineyard.
In the end, we produced the best wine to date.
Vines in the Panek Vineyard withstood the heat extremely well. Despite
negligible rainfall early on, we saw very little dehydration—a testament to
a spectacular farming effort in a hot, dry year. The non-stop growing season
resulted in highly concentrated fruit, manifested as smaller berries with more
per cluster than we’ve ever harvested from this site. Clone 6 typically produces
a smaller berry, and this season saw that sometimes shy performer excel with
balanced vine vigor and growth. Clones 7 and 169 were the real revelation,
however. Both delighted us with uncharacteristically tiny berries and extremely
thick skins, from which the wine draws its profound color and flavor.
Aging
Aging: 20 months in 100% French
oak (82% new barrels)
Barrel Coopers: Ermitage and
Darnajou
