2021 The Vineyard House 'The Boss Vineyard' Block 8 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa

Notes of blueberry compote, plum, clove and black pepper intermingle with gravelly minerality and leather. The palate is enriched with silky, mouth filling tannins, bright black fruits with lingering notes of clove, dusty cocoa powder and brioche. The wine has extraordinary length and persistence and will only benefit from extended cellaring.

The reduced winter rains of 2021 brought a second consecutive year of drought that was felt across the valley. The headwinds, coupled with dry, difficult conditions during bud determination in 2020, resulted in a light vintage for 2021. Earlier ripening sites, on hillsides or with limited soil water, trended even earlier than normal due to the dry conditions and lightened crop load. Overall grape quality is quite high across the board with great color, balanced tannin structure and ideal chemistry.  -Atelier Melka