Altamura 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon “Estate” Napa Valley 96 Points

TWI (Lisa Perrotti-Brown) 96 Points: “The single-varietal Altamura 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for nearly 3 years in barrel, is deep garnet-purple in color. It opens with earthy/savory notions of tree bark, black truffle, dried herbs, and Indian spices leading to a core of stewed plums, redcurrant jelly, and boysenberries plus nuances of tobacco leaf, dried mint, and fallen leaves. The medium to full-bodied palate is fantastically elegant and refined, with red berry sparks lifting the dense black fruits supported by plush tannins and bags of freshness, finishing long and minerally. This is impressive!”

Winery Notes: “Our hillside and valley floor estate vineyards in Wooden Valley are at elevations of 700 to 1000 feet. Soil types on the ranch which are similar to the Rutherford Bench and the mountainous regions of Howell Mountain, Pritchard Hill, and Mount Veeder called for several different clones of Cabernet Sauvignon on a number of different rootstocks upon planting in 1986.  The vines are dry-farmed and vertically trellised.”