2023 Hourglass - Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa (750ml)

Hourglass traces back to 1976, when Jeff Smith's father established the family property in St. Helena, a small four-acre parcel just east of Highway 29 overlooked by the historic Tychson Hill vineyard. Jeff and his wife Carolyn later replanted the site to Cabernet Sauvignon and released the winery's debut vintage in 1997, quickly earning a reputation as one of Napa's rising estates. The property's distinctive hourglass shape, pinched between two mountain ranges, gave the winery its name, and winemaker Tony Biagi has guided the Cabernet program for many years with an emphasis on precision and restraint over sheer power.

This bottling is built almost entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon, rounded out with a small portion of Petit Verdot, sourced from small-berried heritage clone vines on the estate's original St. Helena vineyard. Cooler afternoons, as the sun dips behind the surrounding hills, help the fruit hold onto natural acidity even as it ripens fully. The wine spent twenty-two months aging in French oak, entirely new barrels, a long and generous regimen suited to the density and structure this site consistently produces.

The nose shows caramelized red fruit, herbes de Provence, and earthy undertones, with red currant, pomegranate, and dark sour cherry giving way to denser black currant and dried herb. Firm, polished tannins and a powerful mid-palate stay balanced by sleek texture and subtle oak. It pairs well with dry-aged steak, venison, or a rich mushroom and herb tart.