2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Hoffman Block, Napa Valley

LONGHORN RIDGE VINEYARD, HOFFMAN BLOCK

91 PTS, James Suckling
Black fruit, dark plums, cedar and dried herbs on the nose. It's full-bodied with firm tannins. Structured and focused on the palate. Give it some time to calm down.

90 PTS, Wine Enthusiast
Earthy in tobacco and cedar, this block-designate from near Atlas Peak shows a richness of dark-black fruit and a touch of reduction. Burly in style, showing the warmth of the vintage, it finishes in a grip of supple, integrated tannin." - VB

This wine is an elegant, handcrafted gem that over delivers in every aspect as evidenced by the deep, dark purple color that clings to the glass displaying layered viscosity in the legs as it slides down the glass edge. The deep, concentrated aromas are rich with sappy cassis and wild huckleberry notes and backed by integrated vanilla, cigar box and elegant and supple oak spices. The palate is refined, plush and luxurious which makes near term enjoyment possible. It’s clear this wine has a very substantial structure and age-worthy tannins, but why wait when the wine is so good now. While this wine will cellar age well into 2050 it will transition elegantly into a ripe black cherry, cassis and ripe blueberry and/or huckleberry. The wine finishes complete with balanced acidity over integrated oak and grape tannins with deep, ripe, blue fruit notes including cassis and wild huckleberries- textured and supple in their flavors and overall palate. This wine is very approachable now in its youth, but will age gracefully through 2050 and beyond. The mid palate tannins are firm yet the entry is silky soft and transitions seamlessly through the mid palate.The grapes for this wine come from Longhorn Ridge Vineyard's Hoffman Block in the eastern part of the valley very close to the Atlas Peak AVA. Neighboring vineyard grapes are used in Caymus Special Select and we are very near to Pahlmeyer's Waters Ranch. The vineyard is only 8 acres and is on a rolling slope, riddled with granite deposits and produces very small grapes the size of an English pea. Because the yields are so small (less than 2 tons per acre), we only produce a limited amount of wine each year. We use 50% New Bordeaux French oak barrels are used for maturation. While aging for 26 months, the wine is racked every 6 months and returned to the same barrels for further aging. After bottling we bottle condition for a minimum of 6 months, though it is usually closer to a year.

Tasting Notes:
This wine is very dark purple, plum color, evidence of the rich concentration of this low yielding vineyard. The deep aromas are sappy and rich with supple cassis and wild huckleberry notes and backed by integrated vanilla, cigar box and elegant and supple oak spices. The palate entry displays well-structured tannins which will allow for extended maturation and cellar aging. The wine finishes complete with balanced acidity over integrated oak and grape tannins and deep fruit notes and flavors. This wine is very approachable now in its youth, but will age gracefully through 2046 and beyond.

Food Pairings:
This wine pairs ideally with a double cut bone-in rib eye steak with sautéed chanterelle mushrooms and shallots served with haricot verts in garlic butter with a saffron risotto cake. Save a half glass for dessert and do the dark chocolate molten lava cake.

This is a very serious, single vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a “Cult Cabernet” sold at a fraction of its competitors, very limited as it is affordable and sells out fast.