The 2016 vintage represents another year of phenomenal quality wines from our vineyards and across Napa Valley. The near-perfect 2016 growing season started early, saw ideal weather conditions throughout, and wrapped up as the valley’s first significant fall rainstorm arrived on October 14. All of our fruit was picked prior to this rain. Thanks to a relatively steady and mild July and August and then a series of warm days at the end of the growing season, vineyards were able to progress to perfect ripeness. The wines from 2016 are displaying ripe fruit, great structure, and balance.
Our 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Reserve’ was hand-picked then destemmed and berry-sorted on the crush pad. Fermentation lasted 10 days with an additional 6 days of skin contact, then the wine drained and pressed. Malolactic fermentation took place in barrels. The wine was aged in oak barrels for 30 months. 1/3 new French oak. The wine was racked every 4 months during aging to give it a breath of fresh air and to help resolve the tannins. The barrels were blended together during these rackings to help the wine marry together during the aging.