2019 Red Hen Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Available
94 Points- Jeb Dunnuck
"A wonderful single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the Oak Knoll AVA near Yountville, CA. This Cabernet is floral and pretty, expressing red fruits and aromatic herbs. A wine that proves a Cabernet doesn't have to knock your socks off to make an impact. Seamlessly integrated tannins make this wine alluring and ethereal, it will be hard to put down. Drink now or hold for 15+ years" -Cristie Kerr
Tasting Notes
The bright and delightfully delicious nose sings with cassis, cassis bud, violets, wet earth, and just a hint of nubuck. The mouthfeel is silky, round, and opulent, with red plum, black currant underpinned by fine tannins that persist through the incredibly lengthy finish.
Blend
100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Red Hen Vineyard in Oak Knoll
AVA
Napa Valley
Aged
22 Months 90% new French Oak
Alcohol %
14.7
Winemaker
Helen Keplinger
Harvest Date
October 25th 2019
Agro Ad Amphorum
Latin Translation: From Soil to Bottle
Red Hen is a special site because the vineyard sits on an alluvial fan on the southwest side of the valley within the Oak Knoll District. This location allows for a cooler and longer ripening season, allowing the flavors to develop over a longer hang time, but without becoming overly ripe or showing signs of dehydration. Helen specifically selected our block due to its beautifully balanced vigor, both in the canopy and fruit. These conditions allowed us to craft a gorgeously textured wine. It is perfectly soft and pretty without being ethereal or light, incredibly balanced, and shows great complexity as a classic Cabernet.
The 2019 vintage was one of the cooler vintages of the last decade. Ample spring rains fueled healthy canopy growth and a crop that was nearly as generous as 2018. The first half of the growing season was moderate, and therefore somewhat extended. This allowed the vines time to slow their growth heading into veraison and maximize their nutrient uptake and pre-ripening photosynthesis. The second half of the season, in which the grapes ripen and are harvested, was warm, with some heat during the harvest period, leading to wines of incredible silkiness, fresh and pure fruit, elegant texture, and impressive length.
The 2019 vintage was one of the cooler vintages of the last decade. Ample spring rains fueled healthy canopy growth and a crop that was nearly as generous as 2018. The first half of the growing season was moderate, and therefore somewhat extended. This allowed the vines time to slow their growth heading into veraison and maximize their nutrient uptake and pre-ripening photosynthesis. The second half of the season, in which the grapes ripen and are harvested, was warm, with some heat during the harvest period, leading to wines of incredible silkiness, fresh and pure fruit, elegant texture, and impressive length.
Philosophy
Helen specifically selected our block due to its beautifully balanced vigor, both in the canopy and fruit. These conditions allowed us to craft a gorgeously textured wine. It is perfectly soft and pretty without being ethereal or light, incredibly balanced, and shows great complexity as a classic Cabernet.
