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Tasting Notes
The 2018 vintage captures the bold personality of Calistoga Cabernet while maintaining remarkable balance and finesse. Ripe notes of mulberry, pomegranate, and dried blueberry are layered with warm pastry, cedar, and a distinctive mineral edge drawn from the vineyard’s volcanic ash soils. The warmth of the Calistoga AVA, tempered by the influence of nearby Diamond Mountain, delivers both richness and structure. On the palate, concentrated dark fruit is supported by firm tannins and vibrant acidity, creating a wine that is intense yet harmonious, with a lingering mineral finish that speaks to its unique terroir.
This wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve its character. Natural sediment may occur.
Production Details
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Calistoga
Vineyard Designation: Stella Knight Vineyard
Bottling Date: 2020-10-01
Cases Produced: 812 cases (12 x 750ml)
What I love about our Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon is the unexpected balance of acidity and fruit. The vineyard is seated in the shadow of Diamond Mountain and the soil is comprised primarily of volcanic ash. This adds a note of minerality to the wine which helps temper the amazing amount of ripe fruit characteristics that come from this warm growing region. The berries are tiny with large seeds and the skins have a chewy, jammy texture that transforms into a wine of extraordinary intensity. The oak profile is heavy and deeply toasted and this helps add sweetness to the more pronounced skin tannin. Because of the location of the vineyard, I also get more hang time which gives the wine a juicy layer to soften the big tannins. I enjoy the structure of this wine because it is so intense yet balanced. With respect to our Cabernet Sauvignon portfolio, this wine offers me so much to work with and it fits neatly into our full spectrum of styles as the placeholder on the big, bold end of the scale.
—Michael Baldacci, Winemaker
