2011 TEXTBOOK Cabernet Sauvignon,  Napa Valley

Textbook Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

  • Superb, mature sites in the prestigious Rutherford, Calistoga, Carneros and Oakville AVA’s highlight the pedigree of this release
  • Classic Bordelaise winemaking (handwork in vineyard, hand sorting, new French oak barrels, egg-white fining) partnered with Napa Valley Merlot provides a bold-yet-balanced result.
     

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Price: $29 per bottle

Shipping and handling included at no charge on 6+ bottles!

ACCOLADES

2010 VINTAGE, 90 POINTS - OUTSTANDING & HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
"Bright purple. Fragrant aromas of candied cherry, cassis, cured tobacco, minerals and dried rose. Chewy and sharply focused, offering good density to its dark berry and floral pastille flavors. Finishes long and delineated, with gentle tannic grip and strong spicy thrust."
- Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2013

2009 VINTAGE - 88 POINTS
"Textbook "Fin de Journee" is a pretty, accessible wine laced with sweet red berries, crushed flowers, and spices. Hints of tobacco and cedar appear later, adding complexity and nuance. This feminine red comes together nicely with time in the glass."
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

2009 VINTAGE - EXCELLENT
"Bright violet. Blackcurrant, cherry pit and licorice aromas are lifted by a leafy quality and a hint of camphor. Silky on its feet, with redcurrant and menthol flavors given cut by harmonious acidity. The savory finish features smooth tannins and lingering spiciness. I like this wine's clarity and bite."
- Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

VINTAGE 2011

Rainfall returned with a vengeance in 2011, including a wet winter and storms into June, delaying flowering. A cool summer pushed ripening back, and led the most diligent of growers to trim canopies and yields as a precaution. Shatter, combined with aggressive crop management, led to one of the smallest harvests in years. In the end, quality was better than expected, and again showed that Napa Valley, even in a cool, wet year, can deliver the flavor and structure required for delicious world-class wines.

VINEYARDS

The core of our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon comes from three carefully selected sites situated within the Rutherford, Calistoga and Carneros District AVA’s. The Rutherford Cabernet site exemplifies its provenance with incredible density, color and the classic “dusty” Rutherford nose. The lot from the warm Calistoga AVA surprised us with its richness and Cabernet purity. Carneros added lift and aromas. Our Oakville District site again strutted its stuff, delivering color, high-quality grape tannin and aromatics in both Cabernet and Merlot. Mold and & botrytis poked their noses out in some areas of the valley, but we know very well how to avoid it by diligent harvest efforts. Collectively, TEXTBOOK 2011 showcases “Napa Cab” in a delicious, refined manner.

WINEMAKING

At harvest, hand-picked clusters were field sorted, and then hand-sorted and averaged 23-25 Brix. Cold soaking for 2 days in open-top temperature-controlled fermenters developed color and flavor. Fermentation began spontaneously with prevailing yeasts and one daily punchdown kept the cap immersed in must, extracting superb flavor and structure. After inoculation with cultured yeasts and twenty-days on their skins the must was gently pressed into French oak barriques where it completed ML fermentation. One small press fraction was used (it added really nice “grip”). Barrels were 100% French, 30% new, three-year air dried, medium-plus toast and handbent by Cadus and Francois Freres in central France. Our assemblage included Napa Valley Merlot which added a warming, delicate softness. Fifteen months barrel maturation with only one racking and one organic egg white fining integrated flavors and developed its wonderfully smooth mouth-feel.

We believe it is a “textbook” example of this noble variety grown in this outstanding appellation and that it can be enjoyed for several years to come.

WINE FACTS

Regional Composition: 100% Napa Valley (40% Rutherford, 30% Calistoga, 20% Carneros, 10% Oakville District)
Varietal Composition: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot
pH: 3.68
TA: 0.59 g/100mL

Download Tasting Notes