BRAND Napa Valley 2018 Vineyard N°95 Cabernet Sauvignon
$315.00
This wine is an energetic blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Cabernet Franc from our organically farmed Vineyard N°95 located adjacent to the winery at 1200 feet above sea level. The BRAND Vineyard N°95 Cabernet Sauvignon was aged for 20 months in French oak barrels with minimal handling and then bottled unfined and unfiltered. Crafted to give you an immediate understanding of Pritchard Hill, this wine opens with hedonistic notes of fresh plum, wild herbs and baking spices with supple mouth coating tannins and flavors of cherry, dark chocolate, and bay laurel on the palate. It is delicious now and will reveal additional nuances with further aging.
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20 in stock
VINTAGE NOTES:
2018 will be remembered as a charmed vintage. There was little rainfall that year, but the timing was ideal. Rain in April and May helped the vines establish stable growth all the way to veraison; the growing season was cool, long, and consistent. The fruit set was generous, yet the profile displayed great depth, purity, and focus. 2018 recalls Napa Valley’s 1991 vintage in structure and the 2012 vintage in elegance.
ESTATE VINEYARD:
At 1200 ft elevation, Vineyard N°95 is closest to our winery on Pritchard Hill. Here, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc vines are planted on diverse shallow volcanic soils.
*Hambright soil type: the reddish soil is underlaid by rigid slightly fractured andesite rock with areas of ashy Forward loam and Sobrante loam
* Clones: CS 191 and 685; CF 332
HARVEST DATES:
September 26-October 19, 2018
WINEMAKING:
o Fermentations are typically segregated by vineyard blocks which are each less that one acre in size.
o The must is fermented in barrels and small stainless-steel double-jacketed tanks by ambient yeast or pure cultures depending on the characteristics of each lot.
o The blend is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon which provides a dense core of red fruit, with Cabernet Franc adding aromatic grace notes.
o Aged in French oak barrels for 20 months. 60% new French oak barrels selected from 6-8 coopers including Taransaud T-5, Ermitage and Sylvain.
o Barrel selected
o Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
o 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Cabernet Franc o 14.9 % Alc.
o 850 cases
TASTING NOTES:
This lively wine opens with aromas of sweet coffee beans, crushed graphite, and warm rhubarb. Supple tannins coat the palate as flavors of black cherry and plum give way to baking spice, dark chocolate, and blackberry compote on the seamless finish. The wine is full bodied and energetic with the structure to support years of graceful aging.
