2019 Maestro Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

• Vintage: 2019
• Alcohol: 14.0%
• Volume: 750 mL
• Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
• Appellation: Napa Valley
• Brand: Beaulieu Vineyard

Vintage

The 2019 harvest started one to two weeks later than previous years due to February rains. Spring continued to be wet with some rain during flowering, followed by cool temperatures that allowed the grapes to mature gradually. Most grapes ripened at lower sugars, thanks to the extended, cool growing season, and winemakers were pleased with the full flavors, fresh acidity, and superb balance of the 2019 fruit. The resulting crop showed a modest yield with a slightly more compact structure and extract than in previous years.

Vineyards

The fruit for this wine is from the Gamble Vineyard in the famed Oakville appellation. The Oakville District AVA, one of the first wine growing regions within the Napa Valley recognized as an official AVA, is just a small two-mile-wide stretch of pristine vineyard sites. With well draining, complex volcanic soils and a beautiful temperate climate, the Oakville District has gained a healthy reputation for producing some of the finest expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon in the Napa Valley.

Winemaking

To develop this wine’s complex fruit expression, we first cold-soaked the destemmed grapes for gentle flavor and color extraction. During fermentation, regular pumpovers incorporated the flavor-rich extract from the skins into the wine. Malolactic fermentation, which naturally changes the malic acid into softer lactic acid, rounded the flavors and mouthfeel. The wine barrel-aged 22 months exclusively in French oak.