Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Napa Valley

Vineyards:

1,800 feet above the valley floor in the eastern Vaca Mountains of Napa Valley lies the famed Stagecoach Vineyard.  Stagecoach Vineyard extends from the Atlas Peak AVA all the way north to the Pritchard Hill region.  Our Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet is from Block C3A in the Pritchard Hill region of the vineyard and is planted to Clone 337.  This region of Napa is characterized by red, volcanic rock and large diurnal shifts which are ideal for ripening Cabernet Sauvignon.

Winemaking

The hand-picked fruit was destemmed, sorted and moved to a combination of a closed top stainless tank and small new 60 Gallon French oak barrels for fermentation. After a 5-day cold soak the must was inoculated.  The wine stayed on its skins for 21 days and pressed at dryness. The barrel fermented wine and tank fermented wine was kept separate until a barrel selection could be made.  To enhance the color and complexity we blended in a small amount of Petite Verdot from the Atlas Peak portion of Stagecoach Vineyard.

Tasting Notes:

The bountiful 2018 Napa vintage was more about elegance than pure power.  Aged in 75% New French Oak barrels with 3% Petit Verdot blended in to round out the mid-pallet,  the 2018 Stagecoach pours a nearly opaque purple with a bouquet of black cherry, freshly cut cedar, crushed rocks and vanilla brioche.  The red berry fruit flavors soon give way to cola and umami rich soy sauce.  The pallet is slick and tight in its youth with fine grained and silky tannins that envelope the tongue.  This wine will reward cellaring and/or a decant. 

.