Valley Floor Vineyard, Fairwinds Estate Winery
Cabernet, Perfected
2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
Calistoga
Vintage Perspective Auction
Auction 22 | Lot No. 227
Valley Floor Vineyard, Fairwinds Estate Winery
Cabernet, Perfected
Vintage: 2015
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Calistoga
5 cases produced
Highlights
- 100% estate grown, small-lot, Cabernet Sauvignon
- Vineyard nestled in rich soils of northern Calistoga between the Mayacamas and Palisades mountains
- Dark notes of black fruit on the bouquet; as wine opens, notes of cedar, graphite, black licorice and violet
- Ripe plum, black cherry and flavors of brown chocolate; dusty, slightly chalky, well integrated tannins
Description
Valley Floor Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is 100 percent estate fruit, 100 percent single varietal and made in small, handcrafted lots. Making approximately 300 to 340 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon and approximately 20 to 25 cases of Rose of Cabernet, the Valley Floor Vineyard production will continue to increase. These 2016 grapes were hand-selected by the vineyard crew at optimum ripeness and hand-sorted at the winery to ensure only the best reached the fermentation tank. In the tank, the grapes sat cold as the juice developed color, flavor and aroma before starting to ferment. With gentle punch down and pump over to extract all the color, aroma and flavor, primary fermentation was finished in 21 days. The juice was drained, the skins pressed before being filled into small, French oak barrels (15 percent new). The wine finished malolactic fermentation in the barrel after two months and will continue to age for approximately 22 months. The three-acre size allows attention to every vine throughout the entire growing process. This very personal, hands-on approach is apparent in every single bottle produced by Valley Floor Vineyard. Cabernet Sauvignon, perfected.
Wine Facts
- Single vineyard wine
- Sustainably produced
- Wine is 100% estate grown and bottled
Todd Heth
Winemaker, Valley Floor Vineyard
Todd gained a passion for wine while working as a journalist in Hungary and traveling through Europe. Instead of buying a small vineyard as a hobby, he returned to his native California to pursue a degree in viticulture and enology at Fresno State University, doing work and research at the university and regional vineyards and then moving to Napa Valley. He began in the cellar and lab as an intern at Cuvaison Estate Wines, eventually assuming the role of associate winemaker and working with a number of smaller producers in custom production and consulting, from the vineyard through to sales. He now serves as winemaker for Fairwinds Estate Winery and Valley Floor Vineyard.
Country born: United States
Education: Postbaccalaureate degree, Enology and Viticulture, California State University, Fresno, Deans List, Presidents List
Wine Spectator and American Society of Enology and Viticulture scholarships
Writer/editor for newspapers, magazines about wine in Hungary
Extensive background in old world wine practices including travels to wineries in France, Italy, Portugal, Austria, Croatia, and Hungary.
Years in the wine industry: 15-20 years
Winemaking Philosophy:
We are proud to make limited production, hand crafted wines at Valley Floor Vineyard. Making wine is a great passion of mine. There's a seasonality to the winemaking process and also the elegant craft of making wine that makes it enjoyable. The artisanship from the beginning to the end and all of the quality control along the way is extremely rewarding. By making sure that wines are evolving and developing well during the process, we can help ensure a fabulous result.
Winery Distribution
Valley Floor Vineyard, Fairwinds Estate 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.
Valley Floor Vineyard, Fairwinds Estate Winery Contact: Terry Lehenbauer
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