2016 Vintage: “A near-perfect growing season” is how critics, winemakers, and growers throughout Napa have described the 2016 vintage. The growing season began much earlier than average but without any extreme heat spikes like 2015. The midsummer months followed with mild and warm days. This absence of high temperatures provided the ideal growing conditions for our grapes; too much heat and the vines shut down to protect themselves.

This warm and gradual weather allowed the skins of the grapes to develop their aromatics, tannins, color, and flavors while keeping sugar development in check and acidity high. The fall followed suit with warm sunny days providing even and steady ripening of the fruit and a nice and steady pace for picking and processing. The final product resulted in what may be the best wines from TVH to date.

Tasting Notes: The deep garnet-purple color coats the glass and the depth and complexity jump out of the glass. Notes of red, blue, and black fruits are all weaved together in harmony. The nose and palate are packed with red currants, cherry, blueberries, blackberries and black currents, violets, crushed rock, cocoa, and aged tobacco. The length of the finish, the fine knit tannins, and the explosive nature of this wine is testament to our amazing vineyards followed by transparent craftsmanship in the cellar. This wine drinks well young, but patience and time will add even more complexity.

Harvest October 12th - 18th, 2016

100% TVH Oakville Estate fruit

92% Cabernet Sauvignon
6% Cabernet Franc
2% Petite Verdot

Brix 25.2°
14.5% ABV
pH 3.63 / TA .62

Clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon
Clone 337 Cabernet Sauvignon
Clone 1 Cabernet Franc
Clone 400 Petite Verdot

Fermentation started with indigenous yeast then finished with the addition of Saccharomyces bayanus in closed stainless-steel tanks after a three-day cold soak

30 months in French Oak barrels - 50% new oak

18 Months bottle aging

600 Cases produced