Ink Grade
Third Circle
2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain
Auction 27 | Lot No. 152
Vintage: 2021
Ink Grade
Third Circle
Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain
5 cases produced
Highlights
- Your wine is sourced from our most coveted Cabernet Sauvignon blocks on Howell Mountain
- Farmed organically and biodynamically since its inception in 1990
- Wine is sourced from fruit of immense intensity and depth
- A one-time only blend of the 2021 vintage for Premiere Napa Valley
Description
Ink Grade is honored to release a unique Cabernet Sauvignon sourced exclusively from “Third Circle,” our most coveted Cabernet Sauvignon parcels and the highest in elevation. Nestled on the northeast corner of Howell Mountain, Ink Grade Estate claims a view unbeknownst to most in the Napa Valley. Rising rapidly over 1,500 feet in elevation from its base, this mountainside vineyard clings to volcanic soils and possesses a raw tension that renders fruit of immense intensity and depth. It is because of the inherent qualities of this unique setting that we are able to create something truly rare.
Matt Taylor
Winemaker, Ink Grade
Matt Taylor was born and raised in Sonoma County. Growing up, his parents did not drink, and he was first introduced to the world of wine by his best friend’s dad, Chris Bilbro, who owned Marietta Cellars in Geyserville. His earliest memories of wine would be mushroom hunting or pig hunting, followed by preparing a meal accompanied by a good bottle of wine. While in college, Matt played football at the University of Washington, winning a Pac-10 championship. However, after suffering two herniated disks in his back, Matt decided to give up the game and pursue winemaking.
Matt lived in Cádiz, Spain for nearly two years, where he was able to study and work in a Bodega in Jerez. Upon returning to the US, he was hired as assistant winemaker at Joseph Swan in the Russian River Valley, where he worked the 2000 and 2001 vintages. In 2001, he enrolled in Fresno State University where he earned his post-Baccalaureate degree in Viticulture & Enology. He focused on whole cluster while at Fresno State, which led him to meet Jeremy Seysses of Domaine Dujac. This meeting led to an internship at Domaine Dujac under Jacques Seysses for the 2004 vintage. Upon finishing his Viticulture & Enology degree, he joined Araujo Estate Wines to manage the vineyards and act as assistant winemaker to Francoise Peschon. The Araujos also allowed him to work harvests in Argentina and New Zealand. He would go on to become Head Winemaker and Vineyard Manager at Araujo Estate Wines.
After the 2010 vintage, Matt departed Araujo for two new endeavors: Reuling Vineyard, a Sonoma Coast project focused on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and Front Porch Farm, an organic and biodynamic farm where Matt converted the vineyards to grafted Rhone varieties.
From 2014 to 2018, Matt joined Napa Valley winery Chamboulé, where his tenure was crucial to his development, in terms of research, making wines naturally, and his stylistic approach to winemaking. Matt would go on to form his own project, Matt Taylor Wines, focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the West Sonoma Coast and a soon-to-be added Loire-based component. He has also made wines for 32 Winds Wines in Healdsburg, a boutique winery specializing in Sonoma County grapes.
In March 2020, Matt joined Lawrence Wine Estates as winemaker for Ink Grade, a new label launching in September 2021. The Ink Grade Estate Vineyard lies in the north-east corner of the Howell Mountain AVA in Napa Valley, boasting scenic views of forested pines and sequoia and rendering pure, intense fruit.
Country born: United States
Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years
Matt Taylor
Winemaker, Ink Grade
Matt Taylor was born and raised in Sonoma County. Growing up, his parents did not drink, and he was first introduced to the world of wine by his best friend’s dad, Chris Bilbro, who owned Marietta Cellars in Geyserville. His earliest memories of wine would be mushroom hunting or pig hunting, followed by preparing a meal accompanied by a good bottle of wine. While in college, Matt played football at the University of Washington, winning a Pac-10 championship. However, after suffering two herniated disks in his back, Matt decided to give up the game and pursue winemaking.
Matt lived in Cádiz, Spain for nearly two years, where he was able to study and work in a Bodega in Jerez. Upon returning to the US, he was hired as assistant winemaker at Joseph Swan in the Russian River Valley, where he worked the 2000 and 2001 vintages. In 2001, he enrolled in Fresno State University where he earned his post-Baccalaureate degree in Viticulture & Enology. He focused on whole cluster while at Fresno State, which led him to meet Jeremy Seysses of Domaine Dujac. This meeting led to an internship at Domaine Dujac under Jacques Seysses for the 2004 vintage. Upon finishing his Viticulture & Enology degree, he joined Araujo Estate Wines to manage the vineyards and act as assistant winemaker to Francoise Peschon. The Araujos also allowed him to work harvests in Argentina and New Zealand. He would go on to become Head Winemaker and Vineyard Manager at Araujo Estate Wines.
After the 2010 vintage, Matt departed Araujo for two new endeavors: Reuling Vineyard, a Sonoma Coast project focused on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and Front Porch Farm, an organic and biodynamic farm where Matt converted the vineyards to grafted Rhone varieties.
From 2014 to 2018, Matt joined Napa Valley winery Chamboulé, where his tenure was crucial to his development, in terms of research, making wines naturally, and his stylistic approach to winemaking. Matt would go on to form his own project, Matt Taylor Wines, focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the West Sonoma Coast and a soon-to-be added Loire-based component. He has also made wines for 32 Winds Wines in Healdsburg, a boutique winery specializing in Sonoma County grapes.
In March 2020, Matt joined Lawrence Wine Estates as winemaker for Ink Grade, a new label launching in September 2021. The Ink Grade Estate Vineyard lies in the north-east corner of the Howell Mountain AVA in Napa Valley, boasting scenic views of forested pines and sequoia and rendering pure, intense fruit.
Country born: United States
Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years
Winery Distribution
Ink Grade is distributed in the following markets. Please contact the winery directly for the most up-to-date distribution information and to explore commercial opportunities.
Ink Grade Contact: Matt Taylor
Domestic:
- Alabama ( Alabama Crown )
- Arizona ( SGWS )
- California ( SGWS )
- Colorado ( SGWS )
- Connecticut ( Brescome Barton )
- Florida ( SGWS )
- Georgia ( RNDC )
- Hawaii ( RNDC )
- Illinois ( SGWS )
- Indiana ( RNDC )
- Kansas ( Standard )
- Kentucky ( Heidelberg )
- Louisiana ( RNDC )
- Massachusetts ( Martignetti )
- Michigan ( Great Lakes )
- Montana ( Summit )
- Nevada ( SGWS )
- New Hampshire ( Martignetti )
- New Jersey ( Fedway )
- New York ( SGWS )
- Ohio ( Heidelberg )
- Oklahoma ( SGWS )
- Pennsylvania ( SGWS )
- Rhode Island ( Horizon )
- South Carolina ( SGWS )
- Tennessee ( SGWS )
- Texas ( SGWS )
- Virginia ( RNDC )
- Washington ( RNDC )
- Wisconsin ( Prestige )
International:
- Bermuda ( Gosling's Ltd. )
- Canada ( Icon Fine Wines )
- Caribbean ( Jacques Scott )
- Caribbean ( Arion Wine Co. )
- Caribbean ( Bacchus )
- Germany ( Unger Weine )
- Japan ( Toko Trading )
- Mexico ( Great Fine Wines )
- Norway ( Vinarius )
- Philippines ( Wine Straits )
- Puerto Rico ( Plaza Cellars )
- Singapore ( Excaliber )
- South Korea ( Nara Cellars )
- Sweden ( Vinunic AB )
- Switzerland ( Martel AG )
- Thailand ( Vanichwathana )
- United Arab Emirates ( Hart's International )
- United Kingdom ( Berry Bros. & Rudd )
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