Wines - 2023 Rhythm Cabernet Sauvignon – Stags Leap District

The Rhythm Vineyard is located on the subtle slopes of our Stags Leap District estate. Defined by two large hills at its southern border, this vineyard surrounds our winery and reaches west toward the Napa River. The Rhythm Vineyard’s soil is composed of gravelly loam of varying depths and rock content. The incredibly diverse soil profile enables us to farm several small blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon and additional Bordeaux varieties with unique combinations of clonal selections and rootstocks.

In the cool darkness of night, grapes were hand-picked into small twenty-five-pound bins to minimize crushing. By early morning, the grapes were subjected to rigorous selection by our three-tiered sorting process, which includes our innovative optical sorter and a slow, individual berry hand sort. The fruit was gravity-delivered to small tanks by our unique crane system, which kept the berries intact. Cold soaks lasted from five to eight days, and fermentations were managed through a combination of pump overs and délestage. Extended maceration of up to six weeks ensured exceptional extraction and fine-tuning of tannin profiles. This wine underwent twenty-one months of élevage in French oak barrels, 83% of which were new.

The 2023 Rhythm gushes from the glass with aromas of violets, rich black currants, and blackberries, giving way to nuances of truffle-like loamy soil notes. Those same flavors echo seamlessly across the palate with energetic black fruits, Ancho chile, smoked cardamom, and rose petal notes flitting on the long and sumptuous finish. Lively acids and a fine sense of precision linger long after tasting, making another sip irresistible. – Christopher Tynan, Director of Winemaking