Summit Select
2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
With aromas of blue and black fruit, black tea, winter spice and cassis, this wine is round and unctuous while still displaying the intense tannins and minutes-long finish that are synonymous with our mountain estate. This 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignonis from two of our best vineyard blocks. Fifty-eight percent of the blend is sourced from our Carolyn’s Vineyard, a Clone 337 parcel that consistently produces a ripe, opulent wine due to its western exposure and well-drained, metavolcanic Goulding soil. The balance of the blend derives from the rocky upper rows of our Rock Arch Vineyard, a block that produces our Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon each year. These are the oldest vines on the Pride Mountain estate, dating back to 1982, and provide an inky, blue-black wine with massive tannins and remarkable complexity of aromas and flavors.
Winemaker, Pride Mountain Vineyards
I obtained a Master's Degree in winemaking at UC Davis and then began my career at St. Francis Winery in Sonoma County, where I spent eight years. I took a brief hiatus to work at St. Hallett Winery in South Australia's Barossa Valley and also produced my own brand, Lalys Cellars, for three years. In the spring of 2007, I joined the team at Pride Mountain Vineyards and am thrilled to be producing wines from our unique and phenomenal estate.
Country born: United States
Education: University of Michigan, BS in French Literature and Biology
Six months' study in Paris and Brittany, France
Two months study in Tunisia
University of California at Davis, MS in Winemaking
Society of Wine Educators Scholarship
Wine Spectator Scholarship
Internship at St Hallett Winery in Australia
Trained with winemakers Bob Foley, Tom Mackey, Stuart Blackwell and Matt Gant; vineyard consultants Paul Skinner and Zach Berkowitz
Years in the wine industry: 15-20 years
Winemaking Philosophy:
My philosophy is to let the quality and character of our estate vineyards speak for themselves. Much of the winemaking is done in the vineyard, so careful monitoring of our 85 acres of vineyards is critical, and I am passionate about micromanaging our vineyards to achieve the highest potential from each vine. I make picking decisions based solely on flavor and the grape's physiological ripeness. I employ both traditional and modern winemaking techniques to achieve the roundness and concentration that make our big mountain wines both balanced and nuanced. The final step is the blending, which has a huge impact on the final character of my wines. Each of our 42 vineyard blocks is fermented and aged separately, so that my options for blending our thirteen wines are essentially limitless.
Pride Mountain Vineyards is distributed in the following markets. Please contact the winery directly for the most up-to-date distribution information and to explore commercial opportunities.
Pride Mountain Vineyards Contact: Jessica Baker
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