The Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon is the fourth appellation wine to be introduced in our Cabernet series of very small bottlings dedicated to the benchland sub-appellations of Napa Valley. This bottling is the first vintage of the Coombsville Cabernet and celebrates Etude’s long-term relationship with one of the most highly regarded winegrowers in Napa Valley.
"This is dense and exciting with blackberry and blueberry character, as well as hints of pine needles. Full-bodied, firm and lightly chewy. Flavorful and beautiful." - James Suckling, May 2019
"Composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 20 months in 75% new French oak, the deep purple-black colored 2015 Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon sings of crushed red and black currants, kirsch and chocolate box with touches of wild sage, lavender and crushed rocks plus a waft of dried Mediterranean herbs. The palate is full-bodied with a rock-solid structure of grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and layered" - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, October 2018
From the richly purple colored hues to the depth and concentration evident here, there is little doubt that this Cabernet will continue to evolve and age with distinction for many years ahead. Black and blue fruits lead aromas and flavors of red and black currants, kirsch and savory herbs with notes of cinnamon, pipe tobacco, tea leaf and lavender. Tannins are firm and well-integrated, bold and lingering with a memorable finish.
After three years of plentiful harvests, the 2015 vintage brought low, but outstanding yields. A mild spring and summer with almost no rain allowed the fruit to ripen at a very steady and deliberate pace, and picking began a few days earlier than 2014. The drier-than-normal conditions and abundant sunshine contributed to the smaller berry size and low yields, resulting in wines with excellent concentration, color and flavor.
Grapes were sourced exclusively from the Meteor Vineyard, situated on gentle rolling hills within the Coombsville appellation in Napa Valley and planted in 1999 to three distinct Cabernet clones. The vines are strongly influenced by the cooling effects of the nearby San Pablo Bay, as well as the stony, rich volcanic ash soil, along with the elevation diversity provided by the Vaca mountain range. Meteor Vineyard is carefully looked after by owner Barry Schuler and Vineyard Manager Mike Wolf, which allows the vineyard to proudly be home to some of Napa Valley’s most distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.
The grapes were cold soaked for 3-5 days and fermented on their skins in open top fermenters. An extended maceration period followed fermentation to help modify the depth and mouthfeel of the wine, and to fully extract color, flavor and aromatics. The young wine was then racked into small French oak barrels – using a selection of coopers and forests to accentuate the vineyard distinctions – where it aged 20 months in 100% French oak (75% new). Each lot was kept separate until final blending. The resulting wine was returned to barrel for an additional nine months of aging.
For more than a decade Jon has fashioned Etude wines with a simple creed. Inspired winegrowing diminishes the need for a winemaker to intervene in the cellar. Whether sourcing from the estate Grace Benoist Ranch in Sonoma's Los Carneros, or vineyards like Fiddlestix and North Canyon in famed growing regions of California's Central Coast, his focus is on coaxing the very best from the vineyard. It shows in every glass of Etude.
Alcohol % | 14.5% |
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Enclosure Type | Cork |
pH | 3.67 |
Pick Date | 09/09/2015 |
Blend | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
To create a better experience for you across all of our brands, we’ll check this info with accounts across the Treasury Wine Estates Portfolio of brands: Beringer, Beaulieu Vineyard, Etude, Hewitt Vineyard, Stags' Leap Winery, Sterling Vineyards, Penfolds, and The Wine Shop.
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