93 Points, James Suckling

ORIGIN

Napa Valley is a diverse growing region with varying terrain from the western Mayacamas, eastern Vaca Range, maritime influences, and a variety of soils. The region is equally diverse in brilliant minds with different perspectives on how vineyards are planned and managed, clone and rootstock materials, and numerous sustainability efforts.

As we were approaching our first vintage in a new region, we relied on the knowledge of what we have tasted and gravitated towards in the past. We have a general intuition about how Cabernet would perform in certain circumstances, and using our past approach working in other regions proved these wines to be among the greatest we’ve ever made.

We decided the best way to get the deepest understanding of Napa Valley we could in our first year was to form partnerships at vineyards in as many varying conditions as possible. This led to hillside fruit east of the Trail in Calistoga, benchland fruit in St. Helena west of 29 as well as the middle of the Valley floor, Rutherford fruit just east of the River, a few small picks in Yountville just south of town as well as mountain fruit high atop Atlas Peak.

VINEYARDS

Calistoga: Branham 8%
St. Helena: McGuire 4%, Wolf 33%
Yountville: Dillon 20%, Villagio 9%
Atlas Peak: Hendrickson 26%

WINEMAKING

All vineyard lots are hand-picked and fermented separately. Musts are gently warmed during primary fermentation. Malo-Lactic conversion in the barrel.

Barrels: 100% French Oak, 70% New (Taransaud, Francois Frerres, Leroi, Remond, Boute)

PROFILE

We are quite proud of our first efforts to capture a handful of individual vineyard expressions of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Each piece is combined to showcase the diversity and glory of the region.

This wine is fulfilling and rich thanks to our vineyard selections. Framed by the tannin, acid, and power of Atlas Peak, with an intensity and purpose from our plots on the benchlands. High Tides shows plenty of plush fruit character and opulence with a framework that’s built to last.