Foley Johnson
2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
"Peral Vineyard"
Napa Valley AVA
Auction 29 | Lot No. 99
Vintage: 2021
Foley Johnson
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
5 cases produced
Highlights
- This is a unique Rutherford vineyard located behind the winery
- Bright aromas of plum, blueberries, vanilla and cedar
- Full bodied and rich, echoing the aromas with a velvety texture supported by well-integrated tannins
- This wine will age beautifully for 15 years
Description
The renowned Rutherford appellation is situated between St. Helena and Oakville, and is known for its distinctive "Rutherford Dust," a moniker earned for the great Cabernets that hail from its unique terroir and climate. Handcrafted by winemaker Michael Beaulac, this ruby red Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon lives up to the region’s reputation. Selected from the best blocks in the Peral Vineyard, this vintage has complex flavors of dark cherry and blackberry, complemented by hints of cocoa, graphite and savory herbs. Named for founders Bill Foley and his wife Carol Johnson Foley, Foley Johnson focuses on luxury classic red wines produced from vineyards including the esteemed Peral Vineyard, a 10-acre parcel of exquisite Cabernet Sauvignon adjacent to the main estate.
Wine Facts
- Wine is unfiltered
- Single vineyard wine
- Sustainably produced
- Wine is 100% estate grown and bottled
Michael Beaulac
Winemaker, Foley Johnson
Merus and Foley Johnson winemaker Michael Beaulac, a Vermont native, joined the Foley Family Wines team in 2021, bringing over 30 years of experience working with premier luxury wineries.
Michael began his winemaking career when a chance opportunity presented itself while he was running a Portland, Maine jazz dinner club. There, Beaulac’s career pivoted when Tim Murphy of Murphy-Goode offered him a job one night, partly in jest. The opportunity was one that Beaulac was looking for, and he accepted his offer and moved to Sonoma County, California to work as a Murphy-Goode Winery harvest intern in 1989.
Beaulac spent an interim period at Laurier Winery in Sonoma’s Carneros region working as a cellar master with Merry Edwards from 1989 through 1991. This opportunity gave way to becoming assistant winemaker back at Murphy-Goode, where he spent four years developing new varietal programs for Pinot Noir and Zinfandel. In 1997, Michael Beaulac spent four years as winemaker for Markham Vineyards in St. Helena. Beaulac took his expertise to the next level, becoming Vice President of St. Supéry Vineyards in Rutherford in 2001, working closely with Michel Roland and Denis Dubourdieu. With years of experience and a deep understanding of the Napa Valley, Beaulac became General Manager and winemaker at Napa’s Pine Ridge Vineyards in 2009 where he oversaw the estate’s 160 acres. Beaulac credits his development as a winemaker to working with Michel Roland and Pine Ridge’s high standard for producing quality wines.
Michael’s winemaking philosophy starts in the vineyard. Truly knowing the land, soil, and climate allows him to showcase the exceptionally pure qualities of the diverse vineyard sites throughout Napa Valley. He says of his philosophy for winemaking, “Be proactive in the vineyards. Let the fruit find its balance. Do not force the wine to be anything it’s not. Let it express its typicity. Once in the winery the wine should be touched as little as possible, in a perfect vintage, we really shouldn’t have to do anything.”
Beaulac currently resides outside of Santa Rosa. When he is not in the vineyards, he enjoys hikes with his wife Cathy and their German Shepherd. He also loves to cook and experiment in the kitchen with different recipes.
Country born: United States
Years in the wine industry: 30+ years
Winery Distribution
Foley Johnson 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:
- Alabama (Alabama Crown)
- Arizona (SGWS)
- Arkansas (SGWS)
- California (SGWS)
- Colorado (SGWS)
- Connecticut (Brescome Barton)
- Delaware (SGWS)
- Florida (SGWS)
- Georgia (Empire Distributors)
- Hawaii (SGWS)
- Idaho (Young's Hayden)
- Illinois (SGWS)
- Iowa (SGWS)
- Kentucky (SGWS)
- Louisiana (SGWS)
- Maine (National Distributors Inc)
- Maryland (SGWS)
- Massachusetts (Classic Wine Imports)
- Michigan (NWS Wine World)
- Minnesota (SGWS)
- Missouri (SGWS)
- Montana (George's Distributing Inc)
- Nebraska (SGWS)
- Nevada (SGWS)
- New Jersey (SGWS)
- New Mexico (SGWS)
- New York (SGWS)
- North Carolina (Johnson Brothers)
- Ohio (Heidelberg Distributors)
- Oklahoma (SGWS)
- Oregon (SGWS)
- Pennsylvania (SGWS)
- Rhode Island (Rhode Island Dist)
- South Carolina (SGWS)
- Tennessee (SGWS)
- Texas (SGWS)
- Vermont (Farrell Distributing Co)
- Virginia (RNDC Virginia)
- Washington (SGWS)
- Wisconsin (Johnson Brothers)