2014 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon Napa

The Etude Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is handcrafted with grapes from unique benchland vineyards representing the major sub-appellations of Napa Valley. The 2014 Cabernet was sourced with fruit from some of the most highly regarded winegrowers in Napa Valley -- Vine Hill Ranch in Oakville, Morisoli Vineyards in Rutherford, Meteor Vineyard in Coombsville, and Schoenstein Vineyard on the north end of St. Helena. By deliberately sourcing fruit from this group of exemplary vineyards, the assembled wine exhibits the range of Cabernet fruit flavors and textures with vitality and finesse. Vineyard Notes The Etude Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is handcrafted with grapes from unique benchland vineyards representing the major sub-appellations of Napa Valley. The 2014 Cabernet was sourced with fruit from some of the most highly regarded winegrowers in Napa Valley -- Vine Hill Ranch in Oakville, Morisoli Vineyards in Rutherford, and Meteor Vineyard in Coombsville. By deliberately sourcing fruit from this group of exemplary vineyards, the assembled wine exhibits the range of Cabernet fruit flavors and textures with vitality and finesse. Winemaking Notes Etude’s philosophy remains steadfast and this Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was crafted with very minimal winemaking intervention. The grapes were cold soaked for 3-5 days and fermented on their skins in open top fermenters. An extended maceration period followed fermentation to help modify the depth and mouthfeel of the wine, and to fully extract color, flavor and aromatics. The young wine was then racked into small French oak barrels – using a selection of coopers and forests to accentuate the vineyard distinctions – where it aged for 11 months. In order to maintain the unique characteristics of each vineyard, each block and lot was kept separate until this point when the assemblage was blended. The resulting wine was returned to barrel for an additional 9 months of aging.