2018 Eisele Vineyard "Estate" Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA

ABOUT THIS WINE

The team was able to harvest the front blocks (on both sides of Simmons Creek) at optimal ripeness between September 21st and October 15th, the latest harvest in 7 years. There was little to no sorting required in the cellar. Once in tank, excellent extractability resulted in a high level of polymeric anthocyanin and moderate tannin levels, leading to balanced, vibrant and refined young wines. The “elevage” conducted in a fair amount of lightly toasted oak barrels with carefully selected grains and origins, resulted in Cabernets with great finesse and a tight-knit structure that developed magnificent amplitude and length during its first year in bottle.

The 2018 Eisele Vineyard Cabernet is one of the finest and most terroir-transparent vintages that our team had the joy to produce. Very subtle and elegant, the wine unveils a nose of intense black currants, blackberries and Burlat cherry with a scent of roses, crushed rocks, tobacco box and cocoa bean. The mouthfeel is ample and silky, exploding with layers of black and red fruits, spicy cinnamon, vanilla and earthy notes.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Eisele Vineyardwas founded as Araujo Estate in 1990 by Bart and Daphne Araujo; their first vintage was an Eisele Vineyard designate Cabernet Sauvignon from 1991. While the Araujo’s were new to the valley, their vineyard was not. The historical Eisele Vineyard had produced quality fruit for several wineries including Joseph Phelps and Robert Mondavi and was also the source for a 1971 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon – one of California’s earliest vineyard designated wines.

Milt and Barbara Eisele first purchased the property in 1969 when Milt (an executive at Kaiser Corporation was nearing retirement). After they decided to sell they initially offered it to Joseph Phelps who had already made numerous vintages from the property.

After they acquired the Eisele Vineyard, the Araujos replanted much of the vineyard and in 2000 finally removed, due to virus, the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines dating to 1964. The Araujos also built a winery, tunneled caves into the nearby hillside and constructed a beautiful home.

In 2013, the Araujos sold the winery, property and brand to the Artemis Group, founded in 1990 by French businessman François-Henri Pinault, who incidentally is married to the American-Mexican actress Salma Hayek. This was their first purchase in the United States; the Artemis Group also owns First Growth Château Latour in Pauillac in the Médoc region, Domaine d’Eugénie, located south of Dijon, France, Château Grillet in the Rhone region, Chateau Siaurac in Pomerol and Clos de Tart in Burgundy.