Region: Napa Valley

Vineyard: Phillip French

Bottling Date: January 23, 2017

Release: December 1, 2017

Production: 29 cases

Alcohol: 13.88%

Drinking Window: 2018-2027

Winemaking Notes:

The 2015 vintage came toward the end of our long drought in northern California, but the real problem came from erratic weather during flowering in late April and early May. Wild swings from hot and sunny to cold and foggy interrupted the fruit set and in some cases led to greatly reduced crop levels. The amount of damage varied greatly by location, and the Phillip French vineyard was especially hard hit, with nearly 75% of the crop lost, meaning we were only able to produce about 30 cases. On the positive side, the crop that remained was of high quality, and the resulting wine is perhaps the most concentrated cabernet we have made. We harvested the fruit on September 8, hand sorted at the winery, and destemmed it completely. Fermentation kicked-off naturally after 4 days, a lasted 10 days, during which time the must was pumped over daily. The wine was then drained and pressed to one barrel, and allowed to age on the lees for about 16 months, before bottling in early 2017.

Tasting Notes:

The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep ruby in color, with a garnet rim. The nose shows a distinctive flinty, mineral character, along with blackberry, kirsch, cocoa nib and cigar. The palate is rich, yet with beautiful acidity, with persistent flavors of cranberry, raspberry, vanilla, and licorice. Silky yet firm tannin carries these flavors through and holds them on the finish.