2023 Pine Ridge - Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (750ml)

Pine Ridge Vineyards was founded in 1978 beneath a ridge of pines in the heart of the Stags Leap District, where it helped establish the area as a distinct viticultural area. Today the winery farms 160 acres of estate vineyards, 47 of them in its home district, on soils shaped by dramatic volcanic geology.

This Napa Valley Cabernet draws fruit from estate sites in Stags Leap, Howell Mountain, Oakville, Rutherford, and Carneros, along with select grower vineyards. The 2023 blend is 77 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 8 percent Merlot, 7 percent Petite Sirah, 5 percent Malbec, and small amounts of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. A wet winter and spring led to a cooler summer and a late harvest, from late September to early November. Grapes were hand-picked at night, sorted in the vineyard, and destemmed. The wine was aged for 18 months in French and American oak, including 35 percent new French and 15 percent new American, and finishes at 15.5 percent alcohol.

Aromas of blueberry bramble, baking spice, maraschino cherry, and violets lead to a plush palate of blackberry, mandarin, and cocoa nib with a streak of slate. Bright acidity lifts the fruit, while polished tannins and a touch of Marionberry stretch the juicy, layered finish.