2021 Wurtele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting notes: Dark and earthy with cassis, plum and pomegranate fruits that emerge backed with dried herbs, fennel and mint with some leather and cocoa notes. Rich fruit on the palate with round tannins and a soft and elegant mouthfeel.  Powerful and chewy yet balanced with caramel and cocoa notes on the long finish. 

Vineyard: Properties: Wurtele Vineyard

Appellation:   Spring Mountain District
Clonal Selections:   clone 7
Year planted: 1990
Yields: 2.5 tons per acre
100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Growing Season:

The 2021 vintage will be remembered for low yields with intensely-flavored, small sized berries and a smooth and uneventful harvest season. The season started off with very little rain, leading to the 2nd year of drought conditions in Napa Valley, Harvest began early with white wine grapes picked on July 30th and red wine grapes beginning on August 31. While concerning in the long term, the drought of 2021 resulted in a more natural load on the vines, requiring less pruning and dropping of fruit. The resulting grapes are packed full of flavor. Winemakers across the valley are excited about the prospects of the 2021s and it is likely the smaller yields per vine and smaller berry size will result in another amazing vintage from Napa Valley

Winemaking: Hand-harvested, picked at night at 26.5 brix
Gently de-stemmed and whole berries transferred to stainless steel
Cold soaked for 48 hours
Inoculated with D21 yeast and fermented for 23 days on the skins
Free run juice drained from tank, settled for 24 hours then racked to barrel
Aged for 22 months in French oak barrels, 66% new
Cooperage: Nadalié Colbert Selection, tight grain, three year aged staves
Bottled August 2023
125 cases produced
Composition-100% Cabernet Sauvignon