2019 Reserve Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon

The fruit for Sterling Reserve Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from the well-drained, gravelly loam of vineyards in Calistoga, primarily Bear Flats Ranch and Frediani Ranch. In these northern valley floor vineyards, warm days cool down significantly at night by marine air and fog flowing in from Calistoga’s northwest corridor through the Chalk Hill Gap, as well as from nighttime flow of cold air from the steep slopes and canyons on both sides of the valley. These diurnal temperature swings slow down the ripening of the Cabernet Sauvignon to preserve freshness and exceptional balance in the fruit.

Fruit for the Reserve Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon is harvested during the cool morning hours and optically sorted, selecting only the highest quality grapes for fermentation in stainless and French oak tanks. After fermentation with regular pump-overs to extract deep color and rich flavors, the wines were gently pressed and aged for 18 months in a combination of 84% French and 16% Hungarian oak (65% new). Promising vineyard blocks are aged separately and are tasted frequently before the final selection of only the most compelling candidate lots and individual barrels.