Cabernet Sauvignon Atlas Peak 2023

VINTAGE NOTES

2023 is an exceptional vintage marked by one of the longest growing seasons in over a decade. Significant winter rains followed by a warm, dry spring supported healthy canopy growth through bloom. Cooler weather prevailed throughout the rest of the growing season, aided by abundant sunshine that enabled grapes to ripen slowly and reach perfect maturity. The long growing season and extended “hang time” for grapes has produced wines with stunning, complex flavors and the structure for long-term aging.

VINEYARD SOURCES

Atlas Peak is a compelling example of Napa Valley’s diversity, a rocky amphitheater in the southeast corner of the valley, with most vineyards situated above 1,400 feet in the heart of the Vaca Mountains. Its proximity to San Pablo Bay brings a daily cooling influence that offsets warm daytime temperatures, creating ideal ripening conditions for thicker-skinned Bordeaux varieties. The grapes for this wine are sourced from three renowned Atlas Peak vineyards, which form a complex expression of mountain-grown wine.

WINEMAKING

This handcrafted wine is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 8% Malbec, and 2% Petit Verdot. After optical sorting, fermentation took place in 75% French oak barriques, 80% of which were new, and 25% in stainless steel tanks. The wine was then aged for 18 months in French oak barriques of which 30% were new.

TASTING NOTES

Sight: Opaque ruby red

Nose: Distinctive aromas of boysenberry, California plum, and medjool dates mixed with coffee, dusty gravel, and black pepper

Palate: Full-bodied, ripe flavors of blackberry, cassis, and strawberry accented by molasses and almond, with a firm backbone for aging