Almacerro
2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain AVA
Auction 29 | Lot No. 114
Vintage: 2023
Almacerro
Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain
5 cases produced
Highlights
- A distinctive 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon crafted by Matilda Scott and Françoise Peschon
- 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, grown and produced at the Almacerro estate
- Exclusively from old vines planted in 1997 by Howell Mountain appellation founder Bill Smith
- At 1,800 feet, an unobstructed maritime influence promotes a wine of balance and elegance
Description
Almacerro is a Napa Valley wine brand-to-know with a legacy dating back to the late 1800s. Almacerro’s present day proprietor, Frank Scherkenbach, is only the second vintner to steward the property behind Howell Mountain appellation founder Bill Smith, who planted the first vines on the estate in 1997.
Surrounded by forest on all sides, the Almacerro estate is one-of-one, located in the southernmost tip of Howell Mountain. At nearly 1,800 feet, the grapes grown at Almacerro are unequivocally mountain fruit, with an unobstructed maritime influence from the San Pablo Bay that helps retain acidity and freshness. Together with his team, including winemaker Matilda Scott and winemaking consultant Françoise Peschon, Frank seeks to create forthright, balanced wines evocative of the wild place they call home.
Almacerro's Premiere Napa Valley lot is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon harvested in 2023 and sourced exclusively from the original plantings which are over 25 years old.
Wine Facts
- Wine is unfiltered
- Single vineyard wine
- Wine is 100% estate grown and bottled
Matilda Scott
Winemaker, Almacerro
Matilda Scott grew up on a sheep and cattle ranch in the western district of Victoria in Australia, close to the Cabernet Sauvignon capital of Coonawarra. Her first taste of the industry was picking Chardonnay grapes on her 11th birthday alongside her mother at Bowen Estate. Upon graduating high school, she undertook her first of three harvests at Wynns Coonawarra Estate whilst studying history at the University of Melbourne.
Inspired by two harvests at Arkenstone on Howell Mountain, she returned to Australia to complete a post graduate diploma in Viticulture and Oenology with the University of Adelaide. While studying fulltime she also worked at Sons of Eden for two harvests. Returning in 2016 to Arkenstone, Matilda worked alongside Sam Kaplan and consulting winemakers at the facility including Françoise Peschon. The following year the two started at Almacerro as assistant and consulting winemaker, with Matilda gaining the title of winemaker in 2021.
Country born: Australia
Education: Current - WSET Diploma student
Post-Grad Dip Viti and Oenology University of Adelaide
BA University of Melbourne
Years in the wine industry: 15-20 years
Winemaking Philosophy:
Be true to the terroir.
Francoise Peschon
Winemaker, Almacerro
Françoise Peschon was raised in California’s wine country and earned a degree in Fermentation Science from the University of California, Davis, in 1985. She furthered her education through post-graduate work at the University of Bordeaux and an apprenticeship at Château Haut-Brion before returning to the Napa Valley.
Following stints at Stag Leap Wine Cellars and at Rombauer, where she worked with Tony Soter and Mia Kline, Françoise joined Araujo Estate Wines in 1993 and was named its winemaker 1996, a position she held for some 14 years before becoming the consulting winemaker there. She is now the winemaker at Vine Hill Ranch and Heimark Vineyard with consulting roles at both Cornell Vineyards and Almacerro.
Country born: United States
Education: Undergraduate degree at the University of California, Davis and Post-Graduate work at the University of Bordeaux
Years in the wine industry: 30+ years
Honors / Awards:
Winemaker of the year in 2019 by SF Chronicle and Winemaker of the year in 2021 by Antonio Galloni/Vinous.
Winemaking Philosophy:
Classic Wine
2915 Riverglen Drive
Fort Worth TX 76109
214-455-6922
Other Premiere Napa Valley Wines available from Classic Wine:
| Winery | Vintage | Variety | Appellation | Fanciful | Auction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 Vintners | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Ecotone Vineyard Block 6 | 29 (2025) |
| Almacerro | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Howell Mountain | 29 (2025) | |
| Crocker & Starr Wines | 2023 | Cabernet Franc | St. Helena | The Goddess | 29 (2025) |
| Dakota Shy | 2023 | Cabernet Franc | Oakville | Oakville Ranch Vineyard CF Selection | 29 (2025) |
| Darioush | 2023 | Cabernet Franc | Mount Veeder | Sage Vineyard | 29 (2025) |
| Frank Family Vineyards | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Winston Hill Block 5 - Heart Block | 29 (2025) |
| Gamble Estates | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Family Home Vineyard Northwest Block | 29 (2025) |
| HALL | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Sacrashe | 29 (2025) |
| La Jota Vineyard Co. | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Howell Mountain | 29 (2025) | |
| Round Pond Estate | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | SVS | 29 (2025) |
| Tamber Bey | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | 29 (2025) | |
| Ashes & Diamonds | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Diamond Mountain District | 28 (2024) | |
| Fisher Vineyards | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Calistoga | Lamb Vineyard | 28 (2024) |
| Gemstone | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Yountville | A Rare and Remarkable Gem | 28 (2024) |
| La Jota Vineyard Co. | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Howell Mountain | 28 (2024) | |
| Palmaz Vineyards | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Tortuga | 28 (2024) |
| Sequoia Grove Winery | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | 28 (2024) | |
| Tamber Bey | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | 28 (2024) | |
| TEXTBOOK | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Oakville 5ive | 28 (2024) |
| ELLMAN | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | ELLMAN |Back to School Proprietary Red Blend | 27 (2023) |
| Mayacamas Vineyards | 2021 | Cabernet Franc | Mount Veeder | Estate | 27 (2023) |
| TEXTBOOK | 2021 | Red Wine | Oakville | 5ive Proprietary Red Blend | 27 (2023) |
| Trois Noix | 2021 | Chardonnay | Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley | Muir Hanna Old Vine Selection | 26 (2022) |
| Merus | 2019 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 25 (2021) |
Winery Distribution
Almacerro is distributed in the following markets. Please contact the winery directly for the most up-to-date distribution information and to explore commercial opportunities.
Domestic:
- California (Kimberly Jones Selections)
- Colorado (Momentum Beverage)
- Florida (Monsieur Touton Selection)
- Georgia (Hemisphere)
- Hawaii (Ohana Beverage)
- Illinois (Momentum Beverage)
- Kansas (RNDC)
- Maryland (Monsieur Touton Selection)
- Massachusetts (Monsieur Touton Selection)
- Michigan (TWP)
- Minnesota (Small Lot Wines)
- Missouri (RNDC)
- Nevada (Imperial)
- New Hampshire (Monsieur Touton Selection)
- New Jersey (Monsieur Touton Selection)
- New York (Monsieur Touton Selection)
- North Carolina (Advantage)
- North Dakota (Small Lot Wines)
- Ohio (Heidelberg)
- Pennsylvania (Grapes to Glass)
- Rhode Island (Monsieur Touton Selection)
- South Dakota (Small Lot Wines)
- Texas (Victory)
- Virginia (Monsieur Touton Selection)