2015 Goldschmidt Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Game Ranch Oakville

Many of Napa’s most-respected, highest-scoring, and most-collectible Cabernet Sauvignon wines come from Oakville. The marriage of Cabernet Sauvignon with the soil and climate of Oakville produces wines with tremendous depth and complexity. Some emphasize subtlety over power and others structure over fruit. There's not really one style of Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, because the terrain varies so much. Rocky, red volcanic soils dominate in the east and receive full afternoon sun, the valley floor tends to have deeper, heavier soils, and on the west side long and broad alluvial fans get shaded by the mountains late in the day. One aspect that all the wines share, however, is an appealing acidity and freshness caused by the fog off the bay. Even the richest, most opulent Oakville wines show this trait.

Nick Goldschmidt makes his Oakville Game Ranch in a very approachable, elegant style. Sourced from the eastern-end of Oakville Cross Rd, the soils here transition from volcanic red clay to brown, gravelly loam. They offer exceptionally good drainage which controls vigor, produce smaller berries and ultimately wines with deeper concentration. Soil water-holding capacity is sufficient enough to prevent dehydration thus protecting the critical fruit flavor to alcohol balance. Goldschmidt Game Ranch shows early drinkability, ripe fruit and tannins, and savory minerality.