Hill Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Napa Valley, California

The 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is carefully blended to give power and balance. “We appreciate the opportunity to use high elevations (Baker Vineyard in Atlas Peak is at 1,200 ft.) with their intense tannins and color, then blend and civilize them with vineyards from the valley floor and cooler areas.” 2019 was a solid viticultural year, with less than average yields. In mid August, a serious hot spell made fires in Hopland worrisome, but then the fog pattern came back in and things ripened up nicely. Most of the Cabernet Sauvignon came in the week of October 22 through October 25 at 26 Brix, with excellent color and ripe tannins. Most of the fruit had a 3-day cold soak, high temperatures, followed by 2 weeks on the skins before pressing. The 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has beautiful aromas of rich mocha and blackberry with violets and vanilla. The palate is ripe and smooth, with blackberry, and black cherry flavors and a rich oak spice backbone and a broad lush texture. This wine has tremendous viscosity for being so young and has a lot of room to grow and integrate all the flavors.