2016 Vineyard 29 Cru Cabernet Sauvignon Napa

THE VINEYARDS

Our Cru Cabernet is deeply rooted in the vineyards of St. Helena that surround our estate, with about 60% of the fruit coming from neighboring growers. Each year, we hand-select the balance of the blend from dierent parts of the valley to layer together a delicious, well-rounded and beautifully balanced wine that expresses the nuance and character of the Napa Valley. Fourteen vineyards play a role in the 2016 Cru bottling, including valley oor and mountain Cabernet and Malbec, valley oor Petit Verdot and Merlot, and bench land Cabernet Franc blocks, which all contribute to the juicy approachability and great structure of Cru Cabernet.

THE VINTAGE

Mother Nature was generous, and the 2016 season throughout Napa Valley was darn-near perfect, with mild temperatures and zero heat spikes allowing the fruit to ripen slowly and evenly on the vine, wrapping up with a long, low-stress harvest. Don’t be fooled by the uneventful vintage, though. e nished wines are spectacular, with explosive aromatics, intense fruit character and excellent structure. Incidentally, the 2016 Cru Cabernet is our rst bottled with a TCA-free Portocork, eliminating the risk of cork-taint.

THE WINE

Our 2016 Cru Cabernet Sauvignon’s gorgeous aromatic prole opens with chocolate-covered blueberries and warm raspberry cobbler. Juicy blue and black fruits are joined by notes of violets and mocha as they spread across the palate, where great acidity and weight extend well into the back palate, nishing with ne-grained, silky tannin texture and a farewell kiss of cocoa