Somnium
2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
Auction 27 | Lot No. 119
Vintage: 2021
Somnium
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
5 cases produced
Highlights
- A sumptuous blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a touch of Petit Verdot; unfined, unfiltered
- Crafted by winemaker Julien Fayard, renowned for his fresh, expressive and seamless finesse
- Pristine fruit sourced from our hillside estate and one other prized vineyard in the Coombsville nested appellation
- Handpicked at first light, 100% destemmed, aging 20 months in 70% new French oak for optimal balance
Description
Somnium is Latin for dream—and also the name of the small, boutique wine brand founded by retired race car driver Danica Patrick. Danica’s dreams of a second career as a Napa Valley vintner inspired her to establish a CCOF-certified organic estate vineyard perched 1,300 feet above sea level in the Vaca Mountains, looking down across the valley below. This west-facing site’s late afternoon sunshine, rocky soils and nuanced microclimates produce velvety soft Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. For this offering, acclaimed winemaker Julien Fayard blended estate grown fruit with Coombsville Merlot to create an expressive and dynamic Napa Valley sensation—a dream you’ll never forget. The rich textures and intensity of our estate fruit shine in this wine. Drought conditions during the 2021 vintage pushed our vines to focus their energy on fewer clusters than usual, resulting in exceptional concentration and density. Mediterranean spice and subtle sylvan notes from the oak build complexity on the deep blackberry core. This is a powerful expression of hillside Cabernet Sauvignon, with ripe, dark fruits held in graceful balance by the elegant acidity.
Wine Facts
- Wine is unfiltered
Julien Fayard
Winemaker, Somnium
Growing up in the South of France afforded Julien the opportunity to develop a love for both the land and the sea. He was immersed in the vineyard at a young age, and also fell in love with surfing.
Although he spent his childhood running through the vineyards of Provence with his cousins, shooting grapes at each other with a slingshot, his time cleaning the cellar as a young boy convinced him to follow a different course in school. Yet as he studied agri-business in the Loire Valley, he always returned to winemaking each year to assist with harvest. It was this continuous connection to the craft that eventually persuaded him to pursue a career as a winemaker.
Dedicated to achieving excellence in his craft, Julien garnered winemaking positions at some of Bordeaux’s most noble wineries, including Lafite Rothschild and Smith Haut Lafitte. In 2003, Julien had the opportunity to intern in the US and he embraced it to the fullest. He then returned to his family’s fast-growing winery in Provence, where his experiences helped them re-work operations, logistics, and engineering. In 2006, Julien moved to Napa and worked with Philippe Melka as his director of winemaking for eight years before launching his own projects, which include Fayard Winemaking and Covert Estate in Coombsville.
Now with more than two decades of winemaking expertise, Julien Fayard is one of Napa Valley’s most respected winemakers, producing California varietals with French finesse. He believes in producing wines with an identity, exploiting what makes each one unique. Julien’s wines are a pure expression of their terroir, highlighting the specificities and characteristics of the fruit, vineyard management, soil and climate. He has a track record of building brands both in terms of quality and market presence.
Julien earned his Master in Agri-Business from ESA France and his Master in Winemaking from Toulouse France. In 2011, he received his MBA from UC Davis. Today, Julien lives in Napa with his three children Emeline, Kian and Maelle. He continues to surf weekly.
Country born: France
Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years
Winery Distribution
Somnium is distributed in the following markets. Please contact the winery directly for the most up-to-date distribution information and to explore commercial opportunities.
Somnium Contact: Tracy Smith
Domestic:
- Arizona ( A bottle a day )
- California ( Cantine Wine Consulting )
- Florida ( Unfiltered Unfined )
- Massachusetts ( Horizon Beverage Company )
- Nebraska ( Quail Distributing )
- Nevada ( Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits )
- New Hampshire ( Perfecta Wine Company )
- New Jersey ( Vias Imports )
- New York ( Vias Imports )
- North Dakota ( Johnson Brothers )
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