Canard Vineyard Esteate Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Napa Valley, California

Canard Vineyard has been producing wine commercially in the Napa Valley since 1984. Today 22 acres of vines are planted on the property – it’s a very historic site. Rich and Carolyn Czapleski are only the properties’ 4th owners since the original owner acquired the land from a General Vallejo land grant. The vines at Canard are all head trained, weathered by time, yet still resilient and producing fruit, albeit in small quantities. The vines produce merely between 1 to 2 tons per acre. They are dry farmed – the ground is tilled in the spring and enough moisture remains within the soil for the vines to survive the dry months throughout the Summer and into the Fall. The Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% varietal. A whisper of anis comes and goes on the bouquet, but big lingering notes of blackberry, and black pepper show – the rounded, opulent palate shows intense ripe black fruit. This wine packs a lot of punch for a Napa Cabernet. First, it is all estate grown, with a fairly small production that varies around 800 cases annually. Less water and a greater skin to flesh ratio equals more intense fruit on the palate. Shows black and red fruit, a touch of chocolate and notes of holiday spice on the nose. The palate is rich with cherry pie, currants, toasted oak and hints of sage brush.