Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Silencieux 2021, Napa Valley, California

This wine is incredibly satisfying to behold as it opens in the glass. Wonderfully aromatic and expressive, the 2021 vintage opens with scents of sweet cassis, anise, blackberries, roasted coffee, blue herbs and barrel vanillin. On the palate, the tannins are firm, upfront and balanced throughout, with all pockets of the mouth left yearning for another sip. Full-bodied and extracted with ripe black fruit, blueberries, charred caramel and a delightful hint of fresh herbs that concentrate into a lengthy finish. This wine is approachable upon release and cellar worthy in proper aging conditions. The diversity of fruit sourcing that created this wine is a testament to efforts to increase quality across the board with the production of Silencieux Cabernet Sauvignon. 100% gravity flow was deployed in the production of this wine. The fruit was hand picked and gently processed using our state-of-the-art Pellenc sorting and destemming system, producing what we describe as ‘fruit caviar.’ The pristine, whole berries were moved via elevator belt into a combination of small stainless steel, concrete tank fermenters, and open-top barriques. Time on skins lasted 20 to 35 days. The fruit was then separated to ‘free run’ and ‘light press’ fractions. The finished wine was aged in 65% new, tight grained, French Oak barrels for 18 months. 100% native, spontaneous yeast and malolactic fermentations were also key ingredients in the making of this wine. The gentle use of gravity flow wine-making, whenever possible, is carefully exercised throughout the making of this and every Venge wine. Bottled unfiltered. 91% Cabernet, 7% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot.