Estate
2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain
Each vintage up at Arkenstone, we bring in our separate estate blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec during harvest, and ferment and age them separately for a year. Then we create our optimum vintage blend. However, at blending time, we find that our components are pretty stunning by themselves and we often think, “Wow, this component is awesome! What if we blended it with a bit more of this or a bit less of that?” Well, for Premiere Napa Valley we get our chance to do just that! This year our Cabernet Franc was our vintage “wow!” so we decided to do a Right Bank, Cabernet Franc-forward blend. This 2009 PNV blend is quite different from our proprietary Cabernet blend (Obsidian), but elegant, well structured and a lot of fun in its own way.
TBD
Winemaker, Arkenstone Vineyards
You will hear winemakers say that paying attention to detail is critical, but Sam Kaplan, Arkenstone's Winemaker, takes it to another level. In the caves at Arkenstone, he has the luxury to do just that.
After graduating from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, Sam was offered an internship at Pine Ridge Winery in 1998 for his first vintage. He then met the de Leuze family at ZD and worked his way from a cellar worker to the cellarmaster position. Shortly thereafter he was promoted to Assistant Winemaker, where he worked for nearly seven years learning not only winemaking and grape growing, but established a solid understanding in sales. In 2006, Sam met Ron and Susan Krausz and was offered the opportunity to help create their dream --a new winery called Arkenstone up on a spectacular shoulder property of Howell Mountain.
As Winemaker and overseer of the vineyards, Sam maintains the integrity and quality of Arkenstone wine. The depth, complexity, and balance of the wines are evidence of the tremendous breadth of his abilities. Passionate about organic farming, he loves spending time walking the vineyards with the crews, taking note of the tiniest details that ultimately shape each vintage.
The maxim that Sam lives by: Make the best damn wine possible and have fun doing it.
Country born: United States
Education: BA, Lewis and Clark
Enology coarsework at UC Davis and Napa Valley College
Years in the wine industry: 15-20 years
Winemaking Philosophy:
My goal is to highlight the specific vineyards and bring balance and focus to the wines. I make wines that are approachable upon release, yet are very age worthy.
1532 E Street
Napa CA 94559
707-815-8776
Premiere Napa Valley Wine Collection
Winery | Vintage | Variety | Appellation | Fanciful | Auction |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Checkerboard Vineyards | 2010 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | Bear Hollow | 16 |
TEXTBOOK | 2010 | Red Wine | Oakville | OMG it's good (but don't tell anyone it's Merlot) | 16 |
Arkenstone Vineyards | 2009 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Howell Mountain | Estate | 15 |
Davies Vineyards | 2009 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Diamond Mountain District | Jack's Block | 15 |
Levy and McClellan | 2009 | Cabernet Franc | Napa Valley | 15 | |
Jones Family Vineyards | 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 14 | |
Judd's Hill | 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Friends at Harvest / Lot 15 | 14 |
Krupp Brothers | 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Two Bald Heads Cuvee | 14 |
O'Brien Estate | 2008 | Cabernet Franc | Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley | 14 | |
Sterling Vineyards | 2008 | Cabernet Franc | Napa Valley | Three Palms Vineyard | 14 |
CONSTANT | 2007 | Cabernet Franc | Diamond Mountain District | 13 | |
Diamond Terrace | 2007 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Two Mountains | 13 |
Laird Family Estate | 2007 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Yountville | 13 |
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