Barnett Vineyards Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
(Napa Valley, California) -
Regular price $98.00 Sale price $89.99 Save $8.01
About the Winery:
Barnett Vineyards is a small, family-owned winery, celebrating over 40 years on Spring Mountain, Napa Valley. With a focus on small lot, premium wines, Barnett produces an average of 8,000 cases annually. At an elevation of 2,000 ft, with rocky and well drained soils, our estate yields ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Sourcing from esteemed single vineyards across Northern California, we also produce beautiful Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With a focus on organic farming, and minimalist winemaking techniques, each wine captures a sense of vintage and terroir.
About the Wine:
The 2022 Spring Mountain Cabernet is one concentrated wine. The opaque purple color is much darker than previous years. The aromatics fill the air with cassis, dark plum and black licorice. Coffee grounds, cola and dark chocolate are also prevalent. The wine is full and silky on the palate. Flavors of mocha, anise and dark cherries fill the mouth. The tannins are full and chalky with some firm mountain acidity for balance. The chocolate covered dark cherry finish lingers for a long time. This concentrated dark Cabernet will only get better over time. For those with patience holding this wine for 13-15 years will reward them (2024-2026).
Vintage Notes:
The 2022 vintage was one of the hottest on record. Budbreak, flowering, and harvest were the earliest in Barnetts 40-year history. That being said, being on top of a cool mountain allowed us to get through the heat. Where down in the valley floor nearly all the fruit was picked prior to the end of September, we were still picking into the last week of October. This is due to the cool nights and winds that we get on top of the mountain allowing us to hang until perfectly physiologically ripe. This all together warmer year resulted in a very approachable fruit driven wine.
Winemaker Notes:
The grapes were sourced from our estate and neighboring York Creek Vineyards, with the entire blend being solely from the Spring Mountain Appellation and all under estate control. Once again, the first grapes to come in were the Petit Verdot followed by our immediate estate Cabernet Sauvignon five days later and all the other pieces over the next month and a half. Each vineyard block was then aged separately for 22 months, the barrels being French oak and 70% new. 16%Petit Verdot was added for further structure and to add complexity to the nose.
Tasting Notes:
With a deep dark purple core the 2022 Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon shows its youth. Black cherry, raspberry and cassis are the predominant aromatics. Where tobacco/cigar box and dark volcanic earth are underpinning elements. The wine has a nice soft entrance where darker berry fruit is on the palate matched with dark chocolate and cedar. The tannins are chalky but softer than previous vintages, where the mountain acidity is matching. There is a beautiful long black cherry finish. This lovely wine is showing very well in its youth, but will age nicely over the next 9-10 years (2033-2034).