Pine Ridge Vineyards
Trailblazer
2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Stags Leap District
Auction 28 | Lot No. 84
Vintage: 2022
Pine Ridge Vineyards
Trailblazer
Cabernet Sauvignon
Stags Leap District
5 cases produced
Highlights
- Sourced solely from our 5-acre Locked Horns estate, located in the heart of the Stags Leap District
- A mile south of the winery, Locked Horns is situated on a gently sloping alluvial fan and deep soils
- Winemaker Josh Widaman’s masterful barrel selection is aging 24 months in 100% new French oak
- A bold wine with dark berry balanced with elegant acidity and assertive tannin that is ready to age
Description
Sitting on the eastern edge of the Stags Leap District, Locked Horns embodies the region's viticultural and winemaking prowess, and for the first time is being made available for Premiere Napa Valley. Perched on a gently sloping alluvial fan, its soils, deeply enriched in stratified gravel and sandy alluvium, offer a unique terroir that encapsulates the essence of the Stags Leap District. Adjacent to the renowned FAY and S.L.V. vineyards, Locked Horns shares not only a property line but also the same esteemed soil classification. This shared heritage underlines the district's prestigious reputation for producing exceptional wines. Winemaker Josh Widaman's artistry shines as the fruit from Locked Horns Estate is aging for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels, resulting in a bold wine that gracefully balances dark berry notes with elegant acidity and assertive tannins. Locked Horns is a distinctive expression of the Stags Leap District, a collectible gem meant to mature gracefully over the years.
Wine Facts
- Single vineyard wine
- Sustainably produced
- Wine is 100% estate grown and bottled
Josh Widaman
Winemaker, Pine Ridge Vineyards
Josh’s path to winemaking started after working the 1999 vintage at Stags' Leap Winery. During his first harvest spreading stems in the vineyards by moonlight, he tasted a 1997 Pahlmeyer Merlot that left him inspired to create wines that leave a similar lasting impression on those lucky enough to experience them. The combination of hands-on vineyard work and the incredible fruits of a winemaker’s labor sealed his desire to enter the wine world. He transferred to UC Davis where he graduated in 2002 with a BS in Viticulture and Enology, and a minor in Applied Biological Systems Technology. In 2019, he received his MBA from Sonoma State University to better support a well-rounded understanding of the wine business.
Josh spent the first six years of his career working his way up to Assistant Winemaker at Chimney Rock Winery before transitioning to Assistant Winemaker and eventually Head Winemaker at Pahlmeyer. Additional past experience includes harvest internships with Gloria Ferrer in Sonoma and Viña Tarapacá in Chile. In addition, his time spent overseas in the Douro, Burgundy, Greece and Germany have increased the breadth of his winemaking horizons.
“My path to winemaking started with a wine that left a lasting impression, that I use as inspiration in every wine I create,” Josh emphasizes. “Coming back to the Stags Leap District where it all began for me, and to the iconic steep-walled valley at Pine Ridge Vineyards, gives me a newfound sense of determination to produce some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon wines that Napa Valley and the world have to offer.”
Country born: United States
Education: Sonoma State University
Master of Business Administration
University of California, Davis
BS in Viticulture & Enology, Minor in Applied Biological Systems Technology
Foreign Study: Burgundy, The Douro, Germany, Chile and Greece
Mentors: Elizabeth Vianna, Winemaker and General Manager at Chimney Rock Winery and Erin Green, Consulting Winemaker at Martinelli Vineyards & Winery
Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years
Honors / Awards:
Wine Spectator #1 Wine of the Year
90+ ratings on over 90% of all wines made in career
Winemaking Philosophy:
“We’re constantly experimenting in the vineyard, the cellar and the tasting lab...” Being on the cutting-edge can sometimes mean going back to Old World traditions, “but we never rest on assumptions,” he says. “The decisions we make are based on fractions of percents of variances in each blend - minute changes that can make a huge difference in the wine’s profile. Meticulous attention to these, and making sure we taste every possible iteration is what sets us apart.”
“Winemaking is a huge, long, intricate equation - years in the making,” says Josh, sharing a glimpse into the intricate workings of this winemaker’s brain. “Any single decision can take things in an entirely different direction,” he says. “The palate is the ultimate driver. That’s the artistry of winemaking.”
Winery Distribution
Pine Ridge 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.
Pine Ridge Vineyards Contact: Tim Hall
Domestic:
- Alabama ( International Wines )
- Alaska ( Specialty Imports )
- Arizona ( RNDC )
- Arkansas ( Southern Glazers )
- California ( RNDC )
- Colorado ( Winebow )
- Florida ( RNDC )
- Georgia ( RNDC )
- Hawaii ( RNDC )
- Idaho ( Greg Stein Beverage )
- Idaho ( Moon River )
- Idaho ( Golden Eagle )
- Illinois ( Winebow )
- Iowa ( Johnson Bros )
- Kentucky ( RNDC )
- Louisiana ( RNDC )
- Maine ( Nappi )
- Maine ( Pine State )
- Maryland ( Winebow )
- Massachusetts ( Ruby )
- Minnesota ( Johnson Bros )
- Mississippi ( International Wines )
- Missouri ( Major Brands )
- Montana ( Bronkon )
- Montana ( Fun Beverage )
- Nevada ( Southern Glazers )
- Nevada ( Breakthru )
- New Jersey ( Winebow )
- New Mexico ( Southern Glazers )
- New York ( Winebow )
- North Carolina ( Winebow )
- Oregon ( RNDC )
- Pennsylvania ( The Wine Merchant )
- South Carolina ( RNDC )
- South Dakota ( Johnson Bros )
- Texas ( RNDC )
- Wisconsin ( Johnson Bros )
International:
- Australia ( Boccaccio Cellars )
- Bermuda ( Burrows Lightbourn )
- Canada - Alberta ( Andrew Peller Imports )
- Canada - British Columbia ( Andrew Peller Imports )
- Canada - Manitoba ( Andrew Peller Imports )
- Canada - New Brunswick ( Innovative Beverage )
- Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador ( Innovative Beverage )
- Canada - Nova Scotia ( Innovative Beverage )
- Canada - Ontario ( Andrew Peller Imports )
- Canada - Prince Edward Island ( Innovative Beverage )
- Canada - Quebec ( Societe Roucet )
- Canada - Saskatchewan ( Andrew Peller Imports )
- Caribbean ( Fully represented - importer varies by country )
- China ( California Wine & Co. )
- Denmark ( Vinens Verden )
- Finland ( Hedon )
- France ( South World Wines SAS )
- Germany ( Weinhandel Hans Peter Joeckel )
- Hong Kong ( Via Pacifica )
- Indonesia ( Jaddi Internasional )
- Japan ( Mottox )
- Luxembourg ( AmCellars )
- Mexico ( ECM de Vinos )
- Norway ( Fondberg )
- Poland ( Mielzynski SP.Z.O.O. )
- Puerto Rico ( Plaza Provision Company )
- Singapore ( Pinnacles Wine & Spirits )
- South Korea ( W.S. Trading Co. )
- Sweden ( Johan Lidby )
- Switzerland ( Zweifel Weine )
- Taiwan ( Formosa )
- Thailand ( Scheidegger Trading )
- United Kingdom ( Liberty )
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