2017 Antica ‘Mountain Select’ Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

WSI94 JS92 This shows plenty of blackcurrant and dark-chocolate character with ash and stone undertones. Medium body. A solid core of fruit here. Medium finish. Attractive, if a little austere at the end. Drink or hold.
Estate Notes: The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes ripened to attain that perfect balance of concentrated red and purple fruit characteristics, with the firm sweet tannins providing richness to the wine.
The growing season began with an abundant amount of rainfall that replenished reservoirs and soils.  Weather conditions were ideal from budbreak through flowering, providing uniform berry set in each cluster. Ideal temperatures throughout the summer allowed the grapes to ripen evenly.  Harvest began on September 30 with the last fruit brought in on October 30. Unseasonably warm temperatures occurred in early September which accelerated the harvest of the mountain-grown fruit. The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes ripened to attain that perfect balance of concentrated red and purple fruit characteristics, with the firm sweet tannins providing richness to the wine.

630 YEARS OF WINEMAKING—ALL STILL IN THE FAMILY
The name Antica originates from the words Antinori and California, and represents the Antinori family’s longstanding desire to craft exceptional estate wines that are a true expression of Napa Valley terroir.
The Antinori’s family’s 26 generations of winemaking history has long been synonymous with the famed winegrowing regions of Tuscany and Umbria. Today, their wines are among the most recognized and highly rated of Italy.
But the Marchese Piero Antinori and his daughters, Albiera, Allegra and Alessia, are also known for seeking out the undiscovered potential of specific wine regions while staying true to the tradition, culture and taste of Antinori wines.

Like the winery name, the winery production is also an Old World/New World blend, with Antinori Chief Enologist Renzo Cotarella and the Antica winemaking team working together to craft the finest expression from each vintage and vineyard block, from vine to bottle.
The 1200-acre estates has 600 acres of vines on it, planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
Situated above the fog line, the estates offers a mix of steep, rocky, well-drained soils in its higher elevations and loamy, well-drained soils in the lower ones. There are more than 50 blocks within the estate, a true patchwork quilt that takes advantage of the variations in soil, elevation and exposure to best match varietal, rootstock and clone to attain the ideal expression of this site.

The highest elevations of the property, built on the mountainsides, are planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon and its blending varietals: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot.
The high altitude (1,800 feet) means cooler daytime temperatures and a sunny haven above the fog line during the growing season. Heat inversion also means warmer nighttime temperatures.
The steep, rocky and well-drained soils result into low yields (three pounds) per vine, but the fully ripened grapes show great structure with concentrated fruit, and focused and persistent flavors. Tannins are ripe, balanced, and integrated.