2023
Circle Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Circle Hill Vineyard typifies the fruit expression that the Stags Leap District is so well known for.
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2023
Circle Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
What wafts from the glass of the 2023 Circle Hill Cabernet Sauvignon is reminiscent of a fruit pie cooling on your grandparentsβ windowsill.
Graham cracker crust and fresh blueberry mingle with vanilla, milk chocolate, and shortbread. Mineral and savory notes flicker in between, in the form of graphite, pencil shavings and just picked green olive. The palate is sleek, as evidenced by the dialed-in length and tannin structure. It enters with flavors like raspberry before becoming more robust on the mid-palate with fruity notes that are at once fresh, juicy, and plump. The oak influence is there but heeds generously to the fruit. Throughout, thereβs compelling tension between acidity and tannin, making for a resonant wine that points to an aging window that should peak in 17 to 22 years. This wine is a perfect accompaniment to a warm plate of duck confit accompanied by Rancho Gordo lentils.
Vintage
2023
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Vineyard
Circle Hill Estate Vineyard
Appellation
Stags Leap District, Napa Valley
Alcohol
15.5%
Vintage Notes
The 2023 growing season began with heavy winter rain, replenishing our reservoirs and lakes. Bud break was delayed due to a cooler than usual season, typically occurring once every 10 to 15 years. Despite this, we enjoyed a lengthy season with yields from average to 10% above average. With no disease pressure, increased soil water, and extended hang time, 2023 is destined to be legendary. Our vines thrived with healthy canopies, and the grapes ripened slowly, ensuring this βonce-in-a-decadeβ vintage provided fruit that could perform at the apex of quality.
Winemakerβs Notes
The 2023 vintage was harvested on October 10th & 11th. The grapes were hand-harvested at night when temperatures often dip to 50Β°F to capture vibrant acidity and fruit expression in the wine.
We first cold-soaked the must (crushed grapes) for gentle extraction and then ferment in stainless steel, concrete and oak barrel fermenters at 88ΛF. Rigorous pump-overs, increasing during the peak of the fermentation, developed deep color, rich varietal character and fine tannins in the wine. The wine was aged in 71% new French oak barrels to meld the bright fruit expression with oak spice nuances. After three months of aging, we blended the vineyard components allowing them to marry for a total of 20 months of barrel Γ¨levage. This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered to present the attributes of the vineyard in the purest form possible, from the dirt to the glass!
