96
Points
Technical info
Alcohol
15.1%
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Napa
Vintage
Winter rain in January and February of 2018 eased long drought conditions. After a relatively wet winter, both bud break and flowering occurred later than average, but under ideal weather conditions, creating plentiful and even fruit set. Warm summer temperatures with generous sun exposure moderated by cool marine influences in the mornings and evenings, allowed for a long summer growing season, virtually uninterrupted by any major heat spikes. The mild summer run was followed by extended fall sunshine with moderate heat and no early rains, creating near-ideal conditions to allow fruit extended hang time for gradual ripening, increase sugar levels and flavor complexity development.
Vineyards
Located near the town of Yountville, Borrow Pit is nestled in the Oakville AVA, and sees daytime temperatures slowly climb as the cooling morning fog recedes south to San Pablo Bay. This significant diurnal shift allows the grapes to maintain their acidity, which is essential to balancing the ripe, rich flavors that develop during hot afternoons. The site’s topsoil was used in the construction of Rector Dam in 1946, and the remaining ground subsoil is Perkins Gravelly Loam, with excellent drainage well suited for Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2015 an array of six different clone and root stock combinations was planted here. Vines struggle to produce clusters of small grapes, with high skin-to-juice ratios and concentrated flavors that give this wine much sought-after intensity, complexity, and depth.
