2023 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2023 was an exceptional vintage. The question wasn’t if harvest would be late, it was how late it would be. Montelena is unique in the valley as an early-ripening site with the first hillside blocks ripening in mid-September, only a week or so behind average. As October arrived and sunlight began to wane, we moved methodically across the Estate, taking advantage of the beautiful weather and steady ripening to develop an incredibly diverse and beautiful array of flavors in our Cabernet.

Classic, cool vintages have such intense, fresh aromas. Violets, cedar, frankincense and bright red raspberry leap from the glass. There’s also a wisp of black pepper and coffee that lends a subtle but persistent earthiness on the nose. The palate opens with bright acid and loads of ripe red fruit – cranberry, raspberry and cherry – before turning dark and toasty with notes of almond, dried fig and quince paste. The tannins are alive and voluptuous, chalky and rich. They contrast the acid perfectly and continue to build with every sip. The finish is seamless and silky, with cacao, fruit leather and black walnut.

-Winemaker Matt Crafton

*Our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is featured in our single varietal membership program, starting at just six bottles annually. Explore and enroll today to access annual shipments of this wine alongside a suite of membership benefits.