Vitesse Vineyards 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
SPECIFICATIONS
87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Merlot (all five of the traditional red Bordeaux varieties). Grown primarily with lots from Napa Valley vineyards.
Grown predominantly on the hillside part of Spring Mountain in Napa Valley, with lots from other Napa and Sonoma vineyards
Alcohol: 14.5%
Residual Sugar: 0.29%
Volatile Acidity: .68 g/L
Titratable Acidity: 6.8g/L
pH: 3.80
Aged 20 months in French oak barrels, 15% new.
Winemaker: Miguel Caratachea
Fewer than 200 cases made
WINEMAKING
The fruit for the 2019 vintage was entirely picked by hand under the careful guidance of our winemaker Miguel Caratachea. It was gently crushed for optimal flavors, then cold fermented with slow-acting yeasts. The wine underwent four cycles of rack and return, o "délestage," to tease out the essence of the rich, varietal flavors and textures.
The wine was aged in French oak barrels for 20 months, during which the barrels were topped monthly by Miguel personally to keep the abundant flavors fresh through bottling.
VINTAGE 2019
The 2019 growing season in Napa Valley began with an abundance of rainfall, resulting in more than ample soil moisture. This was followed by a long, seasonably warm summer with few heat spikes, and the classic Napa Valley foggy mornings raised the curtain for Vitesse to become a vibrant, elegant wine. After a mild finish to the growing season, abundant hang time coaxed out exceptional structure, color, and luxurious tannins. At the end of the season, Vitesse was blessed with amazing fruit with bright acidity and ample textures.
The 2019 Vitesse continues to exemplify its Napa Valley roots, with a blossoming of aromas and flavors of boysenberries, dark cherry, and hints of lavender, dried bay leaf, and graphite. The texture is round, and your palate will be rewarded at the end with a long, engaging finish from the fine tannins. As with every vintage to date, our winemaker Miguel Caratachea’s amazing display of wine growing and winemaking will make you anxious to take the next sip.
As in previous vintages, the wines received exceptional care, with frequent barrel topping and "délestage," which gently extracts the phenolic compounds by oxygenating the juice to produce a softer, less astringent wine exhibiting more fruit character.
In the tradition of all Vitesse vintages, it is crafted in a Bordeaux style versus the heavier style indicative of many Napa Valley Cabernets. We feel this is a more subtle expression of Cabernet that allows the wine to continue to evolve into even greater elegance in years to come.
The wine is exceptional to drink now and will become increasingly smooth, complex, and elegant for 10 years.
Price: $73. per bottle
