Appellation: Chiles Valley District, Napa Valley
Consulting Winemaker: Jeff Owens
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol: 14.3%
Climate: Fairly warmer summer days (mid-80s°F or 29°C)
Elevation: 600 to 1,200 feet (183 to 366 m)
Soils: Soils are mostly marine in origin. Valley floor features fertile alluvial soils composed of silty clay. Hillsides are composed of more clay-loam and stony-clay
The Chiles Valley AVA is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA, located in the town of St Helena on the eastern side of the Vaca mountain range, It is a long, skinny, high-elevation valley that boasts more vineyards than wineries and enjoys primarily volcanic soils. The valley is completely ringed by mountains so, while the elevation plays a cooling role, the valley’s architecture can sometimes act like an oven, trapping the hot air. The few wines that do hail exclusively from Chiles Valley tend to be fully flavored but with a notable elegance, due to the prolonged growing season created by the elevation. Chiles Valley has a relatively cooler climate than the valley floor due to the high elevations from 600 to 1200 feet above sea level and cooling breezes making their way from the Pacific Ocean.
2021 Vintage: The vintage will be remembered for low yields with intensely flavored, small-sized berries and a smooth harvest season. It started off with very little rain, leading to the 2nd year of drought conditions in Napa Valley, Harvest began early with red wine grapes beginning on August 31. While concerning in the long term, the drought of 2021 resulted in a more natural load on the vines, requiring less pruning and dropping of fruit. The resulting grapes are packed full of flavor.
Tasting Notes:
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Chiles Valley AVA displays a deep garnet-purple color, slipping seductively out of the glass with scents of warm cassis, plum preserves, and baked black cherries plus hints pencil lead, underbrush, and clove oil. Full of ripe, rich black fruits, the palate delivers loads of savory accents to lift the flavors, framed by firm tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and earthy.
Cases Produced: 660
SRP: $125
2021 Cabernet Sauvignon - Chiles Valley District - Napa Valley
VINTAGE: 2019
APPELLATION: Calistoga, Napa Valley
COMPOSITION: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
CAVE AGED: 20 months in French Oak 60% New, 40% Once used
COOPERS: Bossuett, Atelier
HARVEST DATE: September-October 2019
BOTTLING: June 2022
GROWER'S COMMENTS: This limited production Cabernet Sauvignon was grown in the middle section of a prominent vineyard in Calistoga, Napa Valley. It is a special block where red volcanic soils merge with volcanic ash. Its location is a bit cooler than fruit from the top of the hill, so we get extra hangtime in the resulting fruit.
2019 VINTAGE A long, warm summer and mild finish to the season - The beginning of the growing season was defined by copious rainfall and late soil moisture. The long, warm summer saw very few extreme heat events, with foggy mornings setting the stage for vibrant and expressive wines. The long, relatively mild finish to the season, not without its moments of unpredictability, helped to preserve freshness and finesse in the fruit with abundant hang time teasing out great color, structure and soft tannins. Volume is looking to be about average to a little less than average. All in all, exceptional fruit with bright acidity and ample texture promises an amazing vintage.
TASTING NOTES: Crème de cassis, baked plums, blueberry preserves and cigar box with hints of cinnamon stick and dusty earth plus a waft of bouquet garni. Full bodied, rich, decadently fruited. It has beautifully ripe, velvety tannins and a wicked backbone of freshness and a long finish.
ALC: 14.4%, PH: 3.72, RS: 0.061%, TA: .061%
CASES PRODUCED: 260
WINERY PRICE: $150
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon - Calistoga - Napa Valley
COMPOSITION: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
APPELLATION: St. Helena, Napa Valley AVA
COMPOSITION: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
ALCOHOL: 14.6%
AGING: 22 months French Oak 40% New
ELEVATION: 400 to 2663 ft (122 to 793 m)
SOILS: Volcanic in origin. Basaltic red color. Shallow with limited water retention. Irrigation is often essential
CLIMATE: Cool, mountain influenced. Temperatures 10° to 15°F cooler than valley floor in summer. Mostly located above the fog line. Low diurnal change. Summer temperatures rarely above 90°F (32.2°C)
St. Helena’s northern location on the valley floor means that it experiences only occasional morning fogs; this makes for a fairly hot appellation. Because of this, Cabernet Sauvignon from St. Helena tends to be quite decadent, with higher alcohols.
This AVA has an unusual shape, like an hourglass, as it encompasses the narrowest part of the valley. The northern half of the appellation is similar in feel and temperature to Calistoga, while the southern half is kin with Rutherford. The soils vary from gravelly loam in the west to volcanic in the east. The appellation is also unique in that it contains alluvial fans on both sides of the valley.
2019 VINTAGE A long, warm summer and mild finish to the season - The beginning of the growing season was defined by copious rainfall and late soil moisture. The long, warm summer saw very few extreme heat events, with foggy mornings setting the stage for vibrant and expressive wines. The long, relatively mild finish to the season, not without its moments of unpredictability, helped to preserve freshness and finesse in the fruit with abundant hang time teasing out great color, structure and soft tannins. Volume is looking to be about average to a little less than average. All in all, exceptional fruit with bright acidity and ample texture promises an amazing vintage.
TASTING NOTES: Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts from the glass with lilacs, dark chocolate, ripe black and red cherries, and licorice notes plus hints of cedar. Medium to full-bodied, finely grained, and elegant, the palate offers an intensity of crunchy black and red fruits, finishing long and fragrant.
ALC: 14.6%, PH: 3.70, RS: 0.059%, TA: .062%
CASES PRODUCED: 300
SRP: $150
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon - St Helena - Napa Valley
