2016 Accendo Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 375ml

WA98 The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is blended of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot and was bottled in August 2018. Deep garnet-purple colored, it bursts out of the glass with exotic spice notes of star anise, fenugreek and cumin seed over a core of blackberry pie, wild blueberries and warm cassis with hints of kirsch, cigar box and mocha plus a waft of smoked meats. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with vibrant black, blue and red fruits plus tons of spicy sparks, framed by wonderfully ripe, fine-grained tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing long and perfumed.
VIN97+ The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon feels like it hasn’t developed much over the last year, and I see that as a positive. Silky, nuanced and still very vibrant, the 2016 is just as inspiring as it was when I tasted it last year. Fresh, floral and medium in body, with terrific depth, the 2016 is positively stellar. Bright floral and spice notes add freshness to this super-expressive, sublime Cabernet Sauvignon from Accendo.
JS97 This is very tight and precise with dark berries, dark chocolate, spice and hints of hazelnuts. Full body and a solid center palate. Lots of sage, rosemary, and lavender. Beautiful balance. Fine finish.
DEC97 After selling the Araujo estate along with the Eisele Vineyard to François Pinault of Château Latour in 2013, Bart and Daphne Araujo founded Accendo (Latin for kindle, illuminate, inflame) in the heart of the valley. Their longtime winemakers Françoise Peschon and Nigel Kinsman moved with them. The 2016 soars with savory flavors and wonderful minerality. A relatively high percentage of Cabernet Franc for this estate gives the wine exquisite baritone richness. Already it’s a wine of finesse, without a shred of heaviness.

Accendo Cellars is the Araujo Family’s wine brand, made by two generations working together with their longstanding team to honor the winemaking and family heritage of Napa Valley.
Winemaker: Françoise Peschon

Bart and Daphne Araujo have always said their best wine has yet to be made.
This was their philosophy as the proprietors of Araujo Estate and stewards of the historic Eisele Vineyard, and it is their guiding principle today with Accendo Cellars, the Napa Valley winegrowing venture founded in 2013. Inspired by the revolutionary Napa Valley wines of the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s, Accendo pays homage to an earlier era and marks a beginning of a promising new paradigm: to source grapes from some of the finest vineyard sites and terroir in Napa Valley; to make a wine of balance and restraint in the style of Napa Valley’s past wines; and to produce this wine with the commitment, energy and meticulous attention to detail that have characterized their past efforts.
They are grateful to be joined by their daughter, Jaime Araujo Bézian, and son, Greg Araujo, as well as a small team of professionals they have worked with for many years, people who share their passion and, most importantly, their values. Applying what they know collectively about grape growing and winemaking, Bart and Daphne’s aim is to create a world-class wine that expresses ecological diversity and focused stewardship.