Honoring the bravery, strength and wisdom of the founders of the Napa Valley.
This is Wappo Hill Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
“We sought the heights, and from them, catalyzed the energy, the history, and the depth to create a wine that bears our adoration of this unique terroir… I felt, from the first moment there, that this is the ultimate expression of Napa Valley: Wappo Hill.”
— Jean-Charles Boisset, Proprietor
The Vintage.
2018 was a near picture-perfect growing season that began in late February followed by a mild Spring yielding uniform grape clusters. Temperatures remained moderate to cool throughout the season with 2018 being considered one of the coolest vintages of the past decade. The cooler temperatures allowed for a longer hangtime resulting in an even and temperate harvest.
Tasting Notes.
A deep-garnet purple in the glass, this 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon greets the nose with savory aromas of baked berries, crème de cassis and dried flowers. The plush mouthfeel has expressive dark fruit flavors that are complemented by a touch of spice and cinnamon. Full-bodied with fine-grained tannins and balanced acidity, the bold and lingering finish is layered with notes of earthiness.
Winemaker’s Notes.
Harvested in the early morning hours between October 14 and October 29, the grapes are from three vineyards that reflect the terroir of Wappo Hill. The majority of the grapes are from a vineyard located in east Yountville located off State Lane, followed by a vineyard in Stag’s Leap, with the balance coming from a single vineyard in St. Helena. The cooler climate of Yountville, which experiences fog from the San Pablo bay, brings out the textural component of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape along with bright fruit flavors. Producing smaller berries and lower yields, the Stag’s Leap vineyard imparts good tannin structure and intense, concentrated flavors into the wine. The result is a Cabernet Sauvignon of great distinction and finesse. The grapes went through extended maceration before aging for 20 months in small French oak barrels, 25% new, before being bottled unfined and unfiltered on September 4, 2020.
Technical.
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Napa Valley
Alcohol: 15.0%
pH: 3.85
TA: 5.9
Aging: 20 months in 25% new French oak
Production: 32 cases bottled unfined and unfiltered
Accolades.
97+, Wine Advocate
Historic Wappo Settlements.
The Napa Valley has been famous for its wines since the late 1800s, but its rich history extends at least 4,000 years prior and likely much more. Its fertile land supported the culture of “the People,” as they called themselves, in a series of villages. They spoke their own language, distinct from their neighbors, and boasted six villages spread across a territory that extended into Northern Sonoma County and Lake County and south to the estuary of the Napa River. When the Spanish arrived, they bestowed upon the native people the name “Wappo,” derived from the Spanish “guapo,” meaning “brave” or “courageous.”
The Winemaker.
Stephanie Putnam, Director of Winemaking
Stephanie Putnam is the Director of Winemaking for Napa Valley wines including Raymond Vineyards, where she oversees all aspects of winemaking for the iconic winery.
Before joining the Boisset Collection team, Stephanie spent eight years as Winemaker at Far Niente Winery, where she contemporized the winery’s house style. Prior to that, she was part of the team at Hess Collection, where she began as a cellar worker and rapidly progressed to Winemaker. While there, she also worked with the winery’s South American partners.
Throughout her tenure at these highly acclaimed Napa Valley estates, Stephanie has focused on producing high quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines. Her wines have won acclaim, including recognition in the Wine Spectator’s Top 100, the Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 and the designation of Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year by The Wine News.
A Northern California native and graduate of U.C. Davis with a B.S. in Fermentation Science, Stephanie developed her passion for winemaking at an early age thanks to her family’s appreciation of gourmet food and wine. She fondly remembers many childhood trips to the Napa Valley, where her parents would come to enjoy and collect wine.
A Limited Release.
The inaugural release of this Cabernet Sauvignon is limited to only 300 bottles and is brought to you exclusively through the Oakville Wine Merchant.