Tasting notes
The 2020 Yates Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a quintessential Napa Valley expression. In the glass, its deep ruby-hue hints at the concentrated black fruit flavors to follow. On the nose, aromas of dark blackberry and ripe plum are complemented by subtle vanilla from oak aging. The palate is richly layered with black currant and ripe plum, seamlessly intertwined with warm notes of caramel and vanilla. Medium to full-bodied, this wine strikes a perfect balance with its smooth, velvety tannins and a lively finish that invites another sip. Ready to enjoy upon release, this Cabernet will also reward patient cellaring for many years.
Technical information
Vintage
2020
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley
Alcohol
14.9%
Winemaking
The fruit was hand-harvested before final sorting in an optical sorter, selecting only the highest quality fruit for fermentation in concrete vessels. The concrete tanks offer a significant purity of expression and refinement of tannins. The fruit was allowed to ferment for up to 15 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. After aging, barrels were individually tasted and those that best expressed the unique sense of place were selected and bottled.
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. We were very fortunate that none of our vineyards were in the areas of the active fires.
Vineyard
The Yates Family vineyard is found moderately high, just above the town of Napa, planted at an elevation of 1,100 feet. Mt. Veeder is one of Napa's most unique AVAs, known for an extended growing season and volcanic soils with a variety of microclimates. The vineyard is found at the end of Redwood Road, near the Archer Taylor Preserve managed by the Land Trust of Napa Valley. Vineyards were first planted here in the 1860s.