Tasting notes
The Sleeping Lady Cabernet Sauvignon exudes opulence, richness, and a contemplative style. Its profound garnet hue captivates the eye and allows a sensory journey that reveals intricate layers of fresh cassis, blackberry, and hints of baking spice. On the palate, indulgent dark tones of blackberry and currant harmonize with herbaceous undertones of sage and thyme. Warm, velvety nuances of vanilla bean, caramel, and espresso contribute to a robust, luxurious mouthfeel that culminates in a lingering finish.
While still youthful, consider decanting for immediate enjoyment or a cellar for an additional 10-15 years for an even more refined experience.
Technical information
Vintage
2020
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Napa Valley
Alcohol
14.9%
Winemaking
The grapes were hand-harvested at optimum ripeness on October 22 in the early morning hours. Upon arrival at the winery, they were optically - sorted, selecting only the highest quality fruit for fermentation in stainless vessels. Fruit was allowed to ferment for up to 20 days with regular pump-overs to extract deep color and rich flavors. The wine was then gently pressed, racked, and aged for 18 months in 100% new French oak. Individual barrels were tasted and only those that best expressed the unique sense of place were selected for the final blend.
Vintage
The 2020 season will be remembered for factors beyond the typical harvest season. It was a warm, dry winter and the rain and cooler weather didn’t arrive until the end of March. While the mild spring season was a great early start, summer brought very cool mornings and very warm days. Harvest was interrupted by wildfires across California, which came as grapes started to be picked, and we were very fortunate that our vineyards were not in the areas of the active fires. The white wine harvest started in mid to late August while the red wine harvest was smaller yielding and proved to be one of the most challenging in history, but our winemakers remained optimistic and very complimentary of the high quality achieved from this unprecedented vintage.
Vineyard
Looking toward the West Bench of Yountville, snug upon the Mayacamas mountain range, the distinct profile of a woman at rest on her side framed by distinctive foothills explains the name of this meticulously farmed vineyard, Sleeping Lady. Here, at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains, the alluvial fan soils encourage the vines to root deeply to find water. A few feet of topsoil cover a defined bed of cobblestones mixed with gravel, which provides enough stress to keep the grapes desirably small. The vineyard’s unique trellising system ripens each cluster in dappled sunlight—never in full sun or full shade—to give the tiny grapes exceptionally thick and flavorful skins, which yield a rich, highly extracted wine.