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The Vice, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2017

Single Vineyard

Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley

Batch #24, “Peter’s Batch”

Unfiltered, unfined and 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, this Single Vineyard Diamond Mountain District batch is a pure expression of mountain wine. Like a diamond in the rough, this wine was born under tremendous pressure of the natural elements that marked 2017 vintage.


2017 Vintage

A wild vintage! The year began with abundant rainfall following a historic five years of drought. Three heat waves during summer led us to harvest much earlier than usual; but fortunately, it spared us from the smoke taint from the nearby wildfires that ravaged the region starting October 8th.

Vineyard

Diamond Mountain is a relatively small appellation with vineyards dotted anywhere the slope will allow for grape cultivation.  This vineyard is in one of the coolest parts of the district at an average elevation of 1700 Ft, giving the eventual wine a brighter acidity, a lively character coupled with the intensity of mountain grown fruit.  Our vineyard is facing south, absorbing the majority of the ripening summer sunshine.

Tasting Notes

We were fortunate to harvest this vineyard on Friday, October 6th, just two days before the devastating fires. The fruit was hand-sorted once in the field, again before the crusher/de-stemmer and then electronically sorted berry by berry as it went to tank.  The fruit was beautiful, looking like small black pearls.  

The wine has a deep red/black color that was not interfered with any fining or filtering, allowing more of the color and flavor to shine through.  The alluring aroma is of red and black fruit, pencil lead, vanilla and rosemary.  The wine is complex and fills the mouth with a balance of fruit, acidity, oak, and fine-grained tannins.  There is a very long finish with flavors of red plum, minerality, sage, cocoa, coffee and rosemary.Technical Information

  • 100% Diamond Mountain District cabernet sauvignon

  • 24 months of aging in 100% French Oak barrels (36% new).

  • Sustainably grown fruit with minimal winemaking intervention

  • 420 cases crafted

  • Bev Veg Certified Vegan