Red Thread Wines and Summit Lake Vineyards & Winery
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain
Auction 26 | Lot No. 72
Vintage: 2019
Red Thread Wines and Summit Lake Vineyards & Winery
Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain
10 cases produced
Highlights
- A unique collaboration between two Howell Mountain wineries: Summit Lake Vineyards and Red Thread Wines
- Your wine includes old-vine fruit from our oldest Cabernet Sauvignon block, planted in 1971
- Produced from our Howell Mountain vineyard, planted above the fogline where the ripening is perfect
- A special barrel selection aging 26 months in a premier Marcel Cadet French oak barrel
Description
A blend of old and new, this Cabernet Sauvignon embodies both the history of Napa Valley and the future. It’s the creation of two generations of Howell Mountain producers—our 50-year-old Summit Lake Vineyards and youthful Red Thread Wines—coming together to craft one lot that speaks volumes about the longstanding legacy of this esteemed Napa Valley wine region. Forty percent of the estate Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were sourced from our original 50-year-old planting above the fogline at Summit Lake Vineyards, and the rest from a young, yet auspicious 12-year-old Red Thread Wines block. We blended in a small amount of Petit Verdot to add length and elegance to this otherwise macho wine, plus a touch of Petite Sirah. Though rarely used as a blender for Cabernet Sauvignon, the Petite Sirah brings this wine into balance with the perfect amount of body, weight, structure and roundness.
Wine Facts
- Single vineyard wine
- Wine is 100% estate grown and bottled
Brian Brakesman
Winemaker, Red Thread Wines
Brian was born and raised on Howell Mountain at Summit Lake Vineyards, a boutique family winery famous for its Zinfandel.
Working alongside his parents and siblings, Brian developed an appreciation for the art and culture of winemaking, learning every step of the process from vine to bottle.
To formalize his education, Brian studied agricultural engineering at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. Here, he learned of his exceptional aptitude for identifying the intricate details of wine composition and terrior, and further developed his intuitive grasp of the elements essential to winemaking.
After graduation, Brian spent a year traveling the world to broaden and develop his knowledge of wine, stopping for a season of wine and rugby in New Zealand. Wanderlust abated, and palate for worldly wines temporarily satiated, Brian returned home to Napa Valley. He immediately began working with acclaimed consulting winemaker John Gibson, formally of Stags Leap Wine Cellars and Vine Cliff Winery. Here, Brian helped John make wines for celebrated clients including Snowden Vineyards, Andrew Geoffrey, and Salexis.
After apprenticing with Gibson for 3 years, Brian became the Assistant Winemaker for Duckhorn Wine Company's Paraduxx Winery. Under famed winemaker Bill Nancarrow’s tutelage, Brian learned to balance the complexities of large-scale winemaking with the high standards and intricacies associated with top-notch, legacy brands.
Four years later, Brian was hungry to run the show and accepted the Winemaker position at Ledson Winery in Sonoma. Employing the skills and unique enological insights developed over his lifetime, Brian made over 82 wines per vintage from a catalog of diverse growing regions over his 4-year tenure at Ledson, and significantly elevated the quality of wines and brand.
Today Brian is the Winemaker at Summit Lake Vineyards & Winery, Consulting Winemaker, Owner at burgeoning Red Thread Wine Company, and lives with his wife and children just around the corner from his family winery on Howell Mountain.
Country born: United States
Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years
Winery Distribution
Red Thread Wines and Summit Lake Vineyards & Winery is distributed in the following markets. Please contact the winery directly for the most up-to-date distribution information and to explore commercial opportunities.
Red Thread Wines and Summit Lake Vineyards & Winery Contact: Gretchen Brakesman
Domestic:
- Florida ( Harvest Moon Importing )
- Indiana ( Carroll and company )
- Nebraska ( Qwest )
- Ohio ( Tramonte & Sons )
- Texas ( Green Light Distribution )
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