Summit Select
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
This wine represents our very favorite barrel in the cellar - one of five barrels produced by our Rock Arch Triangle vineyard block, a 38-year old planting from the true summit of our property at 2100’ elevation. With roots boring 30’ deep into volcanic soil and berries ripening in dappled sunlight above the fog that fills the Napa Valley each evening, the wine produced from these venerable vines is unparalleled in its concentration, power and intensity. Our unique microclimate, which remains dry, sunny and breezy late into the season, allows us to obtain the extended hang time needed to reach exceptional ripeness without pushing into overripe, jammy character, and in 2019 we reached this balance point on November 2nd. After hand-harvesting the grapes at night, a four-day cold soak was done, followed by fermentation and racking to barrel. The wine will spend 20 months in a French oak barrel, with periodic racking, before it is bottled in the summer of 2021. With aromas of blue and black fruit, black tea, sandalwood and cassis, this wine explodes on the palate, coating the mouth with layers of gorgeous, continually evolving flavor and the minutes-long finish that is synonymous with Mountain Cabernet.
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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