Purlieu Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
(Napa Valley, California) - [WA 93+] [DM 91]

About the Producer:
Purlieu Wines, and their sister label Le Pich, are fairly new Napa Valley luxury producers. The wines are produced crafted with care by the amazing team of winemaker Julien Fayard (he spent five years as the director of winemaking at Phillipe Melka’s, Atelier Melka) and vineyard manager Steve Matthiasson (consultant to a wide array of Napa estates including Araujo Estate, Spottswoode, Chappellet, Hall, David Arthur, Robert Sinskey Vineyards, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and Long Meadow Ranch)

Purlieu’s sister label, Le Pich, gets its name from a Wappo Indian term meaning “golden eagle.” They are hunting birds, and you can often spot them above our vineyards as they soar, glide, circle and arc. They are beautiful birds — stately and impressive, but not haughty or boasting, with a nimbleness that’s inspiring. We hope that our Le Pich wines live up to the character of their namesake.

And the objective is always balance: healthy fruit at peak ripeness, with power but also with freshness. With balance comes the capacity for wine to age, fascinate and excite.

The Napa Valley is blessed with a dizzying array of soil strata, microclimates and exposures. We’ve sourced the fruit for our flagship Purlieu, and its sister label Le Pich, from a variety of top vineyard sites throughout the Napa Valley. We rely on our strong relationships with the best growers and our ability to walk the vines daily.

About the Winemaker:

Winemaker Julien Fayard has lived in the Napa Valley since 2006, when he and his wife agreed to settle down by “meeting halfway” — between his home in France… and hers in Sonoma. In France, Julien worked in both Provence and Bordeaux, where he defined his core winemaking style at the exalted first growth Château Lafite-Rothschild (he even lived in Lafite’s grand château for a period) as well as at Smith Haut Lafitte. Here in Napa, Julien worked at Quintessa before joining Atelier Melka, where he spent five years as the Director of Winemaking. Working with a variety of clients including Lail Vineyards, Gemstone, Dalla Valle, Julien has been able to further develop his winemaking style.

Notes from the Winemaker:
Purlieu’s third release from the Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard delivers a sleek and mouthwatering jewel of cool-climate Napa Valley Cabernet. Juicy red fruits and delicate rose petal aromas glide effortlessly into a succulent core of fresh Rainier cherries, ripe cranberry, lavender and ultra-fresh blueberries. Subtle hints of galangal and earthy minerality broaden the palate with warmth and depth, while gentle oak influence guides the wine through a silken, slippery finish.

93+ Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

“Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Sugarloaf comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant notes of crushed black and red currant, kirsch and black raspberries plus hints of cardamon, dried Mediterranean herbs, crushed rocks and tobacco leaf. The medium to full-bodied palate is taut with bright, crunchy black and red fruits, framed by grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing with great length and an invigorating herbal lift.” – LPB (Nov 2020)

91 Points - Decanter Magazine

“From a site in the far southern section of the Napa Valley AVA. Herbal on the nose, showing sage, underbrush, matchstick and incense aromas. The structure is sturdy but generous with dark fruits, ending with pleasantly fine tannins. The most balanced and nuanced of the 2018 Purlieu Cabernets.” – Matthew Luczy (Oct 2020)