2022 Honig - Cabernet Sauvignon Napa (750ml)

Louis Honig purchased a 68-acre ranch in Rutherford back in 1964, growing Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes that he sold to neighboring wineries while dreaming of one day making his own wine. He passed away before that dream came true, but in 1980 his family honored his legacy by producing a few hundred cases of Sauvignon Blanc in the property's old tractor barn, launching what would become Honig Vineyard & Winery. His grandson Michael took over in 1984 at just 22 and went on to help write California's statewide Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices, a commitment to sustainability that still defines the family-run winery today.

This Cabernet Sauvignon combines Honig's sustainably farmed Rutherford estate fruit with select vineyard sources from elsewhere in Napa Valley, each block harvested and fermented as an individual lot to capture its own character before final blending. The wine leans heavily on Cabernet Sauvignon, rounded out with small amounts of Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc for texture and lift. Extended skin contact, ranging from ten to thirty days depending on the lot, builds structure, and the finished wine matures in a mix of French and American oak.

The 2022 vintage shows blackberry and kirsch on the nose, with hints of dried flowers and walnut. The palate is full and well-structured, with ripe, lightly chewy tannins wrapped around succulent black fruit, finishing with a touch of bitter spice. It's an excellent match for grilled ribeye, braised lamb shank, or a rich beef stew.