Nose

Aromas are opulent with ripe blackberry, cassis, black plum, espresso as well as a subtle thread of anise.

Palate

A rich, dense profile follows with flavors of dark, ripe, blackberry, black plum and dark chocolate, with a fine French oak influence. This is a deep, structured wine with excellent fine-grained tannins.

Growing Conditions

2016 saw a near-perfect growing season. A warm spring jumpstarted bud break, and an ideal June and July followed with moderate daytime temperatures and cool nights. August was cooler allowing for an even and steady growing season which allowed the fruit to ripen uniformly. Harvest started on August 16, ten days later than last year and wrapped up right before Napa saw a significant rainfall on October 14th. Yields were as expected, and the quality of the fruit is exceptional.

- Dollarhide Estate Vineyard

Harvest

The fruit was hand-harvested in the cool morning hours and brought to the winery in half-ton bins. At the winery, the clusters were sorted using a double sorting system. First, the clusters were sorted by hand. Then the fruit ran through a small destemmer prior to the individual berries being sorted to ensure that the ideal grapes were chosen.

Bottling

July 25, 2018

Winemaking

Warm fermentation temperatures and gentle cap maceration helped achieve the desired color and structure for the wine before an extended maceration time on skins prior to final pressing.

The wine was transferred directly to barrel for 18 months of maturation. Twenty-four percent of the sorted berries used in this blend were fermented in French Oak barrels to add layers of complexity to the wine. After fermentation, the wine remained in those same barrels for aging.

Aging

100% French oak (48% new) for 18 months, 4% barrel fermented

Appearance

This Cabernet Sauvignon presents with deep, dark reds and purples.

Food Pairing

- Entrecote a la Bordelaise
- Roast Beef with Roasted Onion Jus
- Holiday Prime Rib
- Cocoa Crusted Pork Tenderloin
- Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Heirloom Tomatoes and Toasted Spice Vinaigrette
- Grilled Lamb Chops with Mint Pesto