A quintessential Cabernet Sauvignon blended from our top Napa Valley estates. Saturated ruby-purple hues anticipate aromas of red currant, pitted red fruit, cassis, and sandalwood. Flavors of black raspberry, Chambord, and vanilla bean are balanced. Satisfying structure that displays the elegance, layering, and length expected from this noble varietal grown in Napa Valley’s world-class wine region.
"Our first release from a micro-estate adjacent to the home of John Anthony Truchard, prized for its distinct position in the Los Carneros AVA. Deep garnet hues anticipate classic cool-climate aromas of briar fruits, lavender, cracked pepper and cured meat. A high-toned entry leads to enveloping flavors of black cherry, huckleberry and Lucques olive with accents of graphite and smoked game. Tightly wound tannins crescendo with feathery breadth on the finish. A powerfully elegant wine that inaugurates a new era for John Anthony Syrah."
Vintage Notes: Mild weather created ideal conditions at the start of the 2020 growing season, with an early bud break prompted by a relatively dry winter. A warm summer in Napa Valley found moderation in Los Carneros by way of marine breezes from San Pablo Bay. The Syrah crop was marked by small berries that ensured notable structure and concentration.
"Less than one acre of “Hermitage” clone syrah on the Crane Vineyard has become the dominant expression in this wine. On the nose, powerful fresh blackberry, Chambord and preserved fig are followed by black pepper, olive and brisket. The wine is compact and opens up beautifully with time. On the palate dark berry and plum mingle with rosemary, star anise and bacon notes with velvety tannins. The result is a wine of incredible balance: tension and energy, plush and structured, sweet and savory."
"The twenty-five-year-old vines I planted in 1996 on the Crane Vineyard produce merlot with increasingly expressive maturity. Aromas of raspberry bread pudding, mint and mocha aromas are well complemented with spice. The fruit is powerful with layered flavors of black cherry, blueberry compote and dried pomegranate edged with baking spices, blue flowers and cocoa. Displaying notable structure, the tannins soften to round edges on the palate, giving way to a silky finish. The 2018 vintage is a beautiful balance of energy and elegance."
"The debut vintage of this cabernet sauvignon from the Calistoga AVA, Napa Valley comes from deep, fertile slopes of our small, 10-acre estate in the northeastern Calistoga benchlands. Red winter fruit aromas of plum and pomegranate are tinged with hints of tobacco leaf and old leather. The palate is focused with cassis, wild blue flowers and dusty minerality opening to brambly berries, cocoa nib and holiday spices. The texture is sturdy with dusty tannins and a broad, enveloping finish."
"The tiny four-acre Coombsville Vineyard produces powerful and expressive fruit. Head trained, spur pruned and dry farmed, its vines produce limited yields of the highest quality—worthy of our single vineyard collection. Black plum, mulberry, tarragon and lead fragrances. Black and blue fruits persist with purity and energy and give way to lilacs and violets, hoisin and crushed stone. Dense, chewy and with explosive flavor. Enjoy now with decanting. We encourage cellaring for fifteen plus years."
"The 2018 vintage is the debut release of the Epps Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon joining our single vineyard collection. Planted to French clone 337 in northwest to southeast rows in 2003 on less-than-two, stony, loam acres with excellent drainage in the Oak Knoll District. Fragrances of Cherries Jubilee, fresh leather and mocha. Black cherry, apple butter and holiday cake flavors finish with potpourri and caramel. An elegant cabernet sauvignon with complex expressions and velvety tannins."
"The 2018 vintage is the debut release of the GnR Vineyard single-vineyard cabernet sauvignon. Planted to clones 7 and 337 in east to west rows in 2003 on less-than-three acres of gravelly, loam soils in the Oak Knoll District. The two clones bring intensity and suppleness to the wine. Aromas of chocolate-covered strawberries, dark-red fruit and peppermint. The texture is broad and expansive on the palate with ripe blackberries and raspberries unfolding with notes of graphite, rose petals, spiced coffee and fresh, savory herbs."
"The 2018 vintage is the debut release of the R/D Vineyard single-vineyard cabernet sauvignon. Planted mostly to clone 7 in east to west rows in 2002 on less-than-four acres containing rich volcanic soils in the Oak Knoll District. A pronounced bouquet of currant and Chambord with hints of tanned parchment and earthiness. A powerful, well-structured cabernet sauvignon with rich, lively, dark fruits—notably elderberry and boysenberry. The energy persists in a long, ethereal finish with s’mores and cigar box."
“The 2018 vintage marks the second micro-production vineyard designate from this windswept hillside estate in the Oak Knoll District. Fresh red and black fruits complement a mineral core with notes of dark chocolate, pipe tobacco and black peppercorn. A rich texture displays concentrated flavors of ripe berries, black currant, cherry and mocha. Fine-grained tannins set the pace for a commanding finish. Twisted Oak is one of the first vineyards that John planted and this wine shows why it merits a special place in our portfolio.”
"The twenty-five year old vines I planted in 1996 on the Crane Vineyard continue to produce merlot with expressive maturity. Raspberry bread pudding, mint and mocha aromas. The fruit is powerful and well complemented with spice, displaying energy and elegance. Notable structure in this vintage. Layered flavors of black cherry, blueberry compote and dried pomegranate with baking spices, blue flowers and cocoa. The tannins soften to round edges on the palate, giving way to a silky finish."
"The John Anthony Reserve Syrah is our best expression of terroir for this varietal. Produced from three select barrels of syrah, harvested from a single acre of 25-year-old vines planted to clone 470 in Crane Vineyard, Oak Knoll District. Known for its use in Hermitage, this clone produces syrah that is highly aromatic and savory. Aromas lead with brambly, berry fruits, macerated strawberries and lavender. Flavors of blueberry compote, huckleberry pie, lilacs, grilled herbs and Texas brisket with a mineral, crushed-rock finish will satisfy the biggest palates. Powerful and rich with grainy tannins that will stand the test of cellaring time over the next twenty plus years."
"The John Anthony Reserve represents our finest expression of the vintage, blended from the most exemplary barrels. For the 2019 vintage, we selected lots from the rocky, hillside terrain of Twisted Oak Vineyard, complemented with fruit from head-trained, dry-farmed vines at Coombsville Vineyard. The nose opens with aromas of berry pie, baked boysenberry, and sweet pipe tobacco. Notes of elderflower, lilac, and truffle emerge as the wine opens up. The palate entry is commanding, with stunning balance and plush textures. High mineral tones reverberate through the dense fruit core, wrapped in silky, weighted tannins. Aged for 28 months in 100 percent new French oak barrels. Only 200 cases produced."
