The Wine

Our Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet sauvignon is blended from superior barrels of wine from select vineyards and appellations within the renowned Napa Valley.  Drawing on his experience with Cabernet sauvignon clones and his intimate knowledge of sub-appellations within the region, Anthony has created a wine that builds upon the unique terroir of Napa Valley.  Our 2017 vintage is a blend of vineyards located in the St. Helena, Rutherford, Mount Veeder Yountville, and Coombsville appellations.

Vinification

The grapes are hand-harvested and gently crushed to retain 60% whole berries.  Color extraction is accomplished via gentle cap irrigations. The grapes were drained and pressed at dryness. The free-run and press wines were kept separate.  Following fermentation the wine went through malo-lactic fermentation in barrel and was then blended.  The blended wine was aged in 100% French oak barrels for 19 months and racked several times to naturally clarify the wine and soften the tannins. With only light filtration and no fining, the wine was laid down in bottle prior to release.

Vintage Notes

2017 brought drenching rains, easing drought concerns throughout northern California.  Yountville got over twice as much rain than 2016, totaling over 50 inches; it was the third wettest rainy season in 100 years.  We waded out ahead of rising flood waters on February 7th.  Spring was wet and cold, slowing bud-break to mid-March. Following a slow-growth pattern of spring, June surprised us with hail, then turned up the heat - temps hovered in the 90s as the first of many sustained heat spells.  In the damp, soft soils of our vineyard, grass and weeds grew before our eyes, and we moved into a very hot July and August with extremely vigorous vine growth producing big, leafy canopies.  Twice as many hours of temperatures above 100 degrees wilted us in both months.  Some growers felt these early waves acclimated the vines for the blazing days of September’s record heat - 115 was recorded in Rutherford.  Many invested in shade cloth, the only thing protecting delicate fruit from afternoon heat scorch. Fortunately, several cooler swings of temperatures followed the extreme heat, allowing fruit to hang and continue ripening through September’s end and into October.  We carefully scheduled picking, often in the coolest hours approaching sunrise.  To cap the season, the recent October fires encircling Napa delayed the completion of harvest.  2017 will be very memorable indeed, beginning with a flood and ending in flames.

Tasting Notes

Our Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is our finest Bordeaux blend of each vintage, hand selected from our best barrel lots. The 2017 Bell Reserve Cabernet displays a beautiful vivid plum color in the glass.  The aromas recall warm spice notes of cinnamon, allspice, and rich black fruit.  Blueberry compote, dried strawberry and pastry flavors abound on the palate, along with floral violet and spice notes that echo the nose.  The finish tantalizes with waves of sweet maple, candied pecan and vanilla flavors with a dusting of cocoa that linger and tempt you back for another sip.  

Technical Analysis

Grape Varieties           Cabernet sauvignon (98%), Cabernet Franc (2%) 

Appellation                 Napa Valley

Harvest Date               September 29 - October 24, 2017

Harvest Sugar             26.1 Brix

Harvest Acid               0.42 gm/100ml

Total Acid                    0.62 gm/100ml

pH                               3.83

Alcohol                       14.9%

Aging                          19 months in 100% French Oak, 67% New

Bottle Date                  June 2019