I started making Cabernet Sauvignon when I kicked off the winery back in 1997. I had friends who were some of the best grape growers in Napa Valley. I am still working with those growers today and very lucky to have sources like Stagecoach Vineyard; at 2000 feet above the Napa floor, a site that gives the wine character of rich, black fruits and dark spice like cocoa and coffee.

Like my friends the Wight Family, whose vineyards in the foothills between Rutherford and St. Helena push fleshy, red fruit into the blend and soften the tannins, creating a perfect balance. The funny part is not how fortunate I am to have these great grapes available to me...the real punchline is that I planted the Pinot Noir vineyard at our home in 1996, along with the Syrah and Chardonnay - and I started making Napa Valley Cabernet with the thought it would be just until our vineyards were producing solid vines, then switch over and make my mark as a Russian River Pinot Noir producer; which has happened to a degree.

However, that 1997 Cabernet was named as one of the "Top 20 Wines of the Vintage" by the New York Times - soon after that we had a score of 98 points - then multiple Gold Medals, Grand Champion in 2010, and now this new 2008 release already has a Double Gold Medal from the Houston International Wine Competition and a Gold from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. So we never phased out the Cabernet part of our Harvest and now we look forward to having it be the finale to our season both as the last wine we put into barrel every year and the last wine we send our "Friends of the Family" wine club members!

This wine is truly one of my favorite Cabernet releases - the warm 2008 growing season was a perfect fit for this grape in Napa Valley, the flavors are rich, ripe and lush and the layers as the wine opens up and unfolds go on for hours.
500 cases made
$60 a bottle