Product Description
The 2016 vintage in Napa Valley is being heralded as one of richness density and varietal purity. The second vintage from the hillsides of the Cervantes ranch blessed us with a growing season that was long, warm but relatively mild. These conditions allowed the grapes to fully mature with a noteworthy balance between tannin, acid, and aromatics. The resulting wine has an ever-growing list of aromas, from raspberry and sage, to cardamom, orange peel, cedar, black licorice, and newly tanned leather. The longer the wine sits in the glass, the more layers are revealed. The wine’s brilliant red-purple hue hints at its dense fruit core, which is followed on the palate by a rush of baking spices, incense, orange oil, and completed by a mouthwatering, savory finish. It has “great bones,” a proper tannic scaffold to support the wine as it ages. While accessible now with a careful decanting, the 2016 Cervantes will continue its beautiful journey and gain complexity over many years to come.
T E C H N I C A L D A T A B A C K G R O U N D
It has been called Napa Valley’s last frontier. Just over the peak of Howell Mountain, alongside Pritchard Hill, is a place less-traveled yet full of promise. Here, the adventurous Cervantes family pairs with a renowned team, including winemaker Andy Erickson of Screaming Eagle Fame. This amazing 1,100 acre ranch marks the highest profile project for Andy Erickson and Xavier Cervantes where they are growing text book Napa Valley hill side wines.
VINTNERS Xavier Cervantes
WINEMAKER Andy Erickson
VARIETAL 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet
Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
APPELLATION Napa Valley
PRODUCTION 545 Cases
ALCOHOL 14.2%
