Nose
This classically rich Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is dark in color with aromas of bright black cherry and blackberry, followed by baking spices and a hint of chocolate.
Palate
On the palate, this Cabernet Sauvignon offers intense flavors of blackberry with round and smooth tannins, with subtle notes of toasted vanilla.
Growing Conditions
The majority of the fruit for the 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon comes from our Rutherford Estate vineyards: Sequoia Grove and Tonella. The remaining grapes are from our small selection of esteemed growers across the valley. These vineyards include: Stagecoach, Morisoli, Lamoreaux, Frediani, Hyde, Johnson, Ithaca, Usibelli, and Christian.
The 2018 vintage was late, long, and bountiful. In fact, 2018 was a record tonnage year for Sequoia Grove due to the perfect weather. The year started out with heavy rains and cool weather, resulting in late bud break to start the season. Good weather during flowering contributed to even fruit set and ripening. Temperatures were steady and ideal throughout the growing season, leading to incredibly balanced wines with bright, food-friendly acidity. This mild weather allowed for excellent growing conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon, resulting in beautifully ripened grapes with fresh fruit character, moderate alcohol and balanced acidity.
Bottling
Bottled June 2020
Winemaking
The fruit was hand-picked and the berries were hand-sorted before and after the destemmer. The juice went through a 1-3-day cold-soak process to settle the solids before inoculating with a unique French yeast strain. Pump-overs were executed daily to fine-tune and extract the rich color and tannins from the skins. After fermentation, the wine was moved to barrel to initiate malolactic fermentation in French oak and was racked 2-3 times before bottling and extended aging.
Aging
The wine matured for 20 months in French oak, with 50% new French oak.
Food Pairing
Versatile with food, this wine pairs well with grilled red meats and vegetables, pork tenderloin and aged cheeses.
