2011 Beringer Steinauer Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Beringer Steinauer Ranch Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon bottle shot

Single Vineyard Wines

2011 Beringer Steinauer Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Vintage 2011

Wine Type Red

Region Napa Valley

Winemaker Laurie Hook

Beringer’s Steinhauer Ranch, renamed in 2003 to honor the winery’s long-time vineyard manager, Bob Steinhauer, lies just northeast of the town of Angwin, at about 1800 feet elevation. Its soil is volcanic with a richly red color and the texture is friable and loose. When Beringer first planted the vineyard, the distinctive character of the grapes was immediately evident, and it was selected as a regular part of the Private Reserve blend beginning in the 1993 vintage. Robust tannins and an earthy finish make this a superlative display of Howell Mountain fruit. The 2011 Steinhauer was harvested on October 31st and was aged for 17 months in barrel.

210 cases produced.

The Steinhauer Vineyard

Originally known as Tre Colline for its memorable undulating terrain, the 36-acre benchland vineyard was renamed in 2003 to honor Beringer’s long-time vineyard manager, Bob Steinhauer, who helped establish the reserve level vineyards across Napa Valley. At 1,800 feet elevation, southwest facing on Howell Mountain, just northeast of Angwin, Steinhauer Ranch features volcanic iron-rich soils notable for their rich red color, with a friable, loose texture. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc thrive in the sparse, infertile soil where cool mountain temperatures with high solar radiation above the fog line allow grapes to languish on the vine, developing bold tannins and distinctive notes.

Winemaking Note

After gentle crushing and destemming, juice and skins were sent to small fermenters for an extended cold soak maceration to allow rich color, complex flavors and silky, mid-weight tannins to be slowly developed and extracted. The Cabernet Franc is aged in 91% new French oak barrels with medium toast for 20 months prior to bottling, when the wine is allowed to rest for another nine months before release.