Wines - 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville

An exceptional vineyard in the Oakville appellation produces intensely concentrated grapes for this wine. Planted on the southeast border of Oakville, this extremely rocky vineyard’s soil is composed of stones made round by the weathering of Rector Creek’s stream over the millennia. The poor stony soils restrict vine vigor and allow the vines to only produce small berries inherent with incredible concentration. The heat retained by these rocky soils helps ripen the clusters and lends a silky lush texture to the tannins and finish.

Hand harvested in the cool early morning hours, the fruit was immediately subjected to rigorous selection by our three-tiered sorting process, including our cutting-edge optical sorter, to eliminate less-than-perfect berries. The selected fruit was gently delivered to tank via gravity by our crane system, retaining perfect, whole berries. Cold soaks lasted approximately five days, and fermentations were managed by a combination of délestage and pump overs. Extended maceration, ranging from three to four weeks, fine-tuned tannin profiles, allowing us to build structure and wine complexity.

The 2023 Oakville opens with a vibrant, inviting bouquet of ripe blackberries, black cherries, and fresh currants, lifted by hints of black licorice, violets, warm stones, and a beguiling touch of salted chocolate. Medium-bodied and beautifully elegant, the palate is finely textured yet built for the ages. The intense black and red fruit flavors are accented by layers of mineral, spice, and floral notes, finishing with incredible length and depth. – Christopher Tynan, Director of Winemaking