2020 Dana Estates Vaso Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

"Harvest began on September 30th in our western facing Crystal Springs Vineyard. The next week we continued harvest at Lotus Vineyard, just north of Crystal Springs. The core of our VASO blend comes from our highest and coolest vineyard, Hershey Vineyard sitting atop Howell Mountain. Harvest of Malbec and Merlot started at Hershey on October 9th, and the remainder of the Cabernet being picked mid to late October. Valley floor fruit, including fruit from our Rutherford Helms Vineyard, had the most diverse ripening, being picked starting October 8th to the conclusion of harvest on October 24th.

Our philosophy of minimal intervention in the vineyard and winery has resulted in a slow progression to dry farming. This forces the vines to look deeper for water, but also for nutrients and minerals. The results are balanced vines that produce small, intensely flavored berries with thick dark skins. We used various fermentation vessels to harness the complexity of our sites including oak upright tanks, single barrel fermentation, and concrete tanks. After undergoing fermentation, the free run juice is drained directly off skins to barrel for native malolactic fermentation and aging, not being touched again until blending in early Spring."