Technical info
Alcohol
14.5%
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaking
The Beringer reserve vineyards offer Cabernet Sauvignon of such quality that a minimalist approach to winemaking has long defined this special blend. Each parcel is vinified separately and monitored carefully from the moment the fruit comes into the winery at harvest. Tailored pump-over techniques are used for optimal extraction, and the wine is aged in hand-selected, custom-toasted barrels of French oak. This 2022 St. Helena Home Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 2 months in French oak barrels (40% new).
Vintage
The first half of the 2022 harvest started calm and early, with healthy vineyards offering fruit with bright acidity, fruit-forward flavors, and strong yields for white varietals and thin-skinned reds, like Pinot Noir. Then, California experienced a historic heat wave in early September that ramped up the pace of ripening, compelling a fast and furious harvest as winemakers worked to pick fruit at its best quality. Fortunately, strong vines and proactive irrigation helped many vineyards survive the heat. The second half was much more predictable with cooler temperatures through October, so that later-ripening red varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, could develop their full flavor and tannin profile.
Vineyards
The St. Helena Home Vineyard is largely responsible for the establishment of Beringer Vineyards because this site, situated around the present-day winery, first attracted founder Jacob Beringer to the property in 1875. The vineyard is formed on a sloped alluvial fan of rock and gravelly soils with little capacity to hold water. Planted exclusively to Cabernet Sauvignon, its fruit has been a component of the Private Reserve Cabernet since 1982. St. Helena Home Vineyard Cabernet is characterized by classic Cabernet flavors of berries and black cherries, layered with licorice and spice.
