2017 The Vineyardist Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

JD97+ The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon comes all from the estate vineyard (Calarcadia Vineyard) and spent 20 months in new French oak. It’s a powerhouse of a wine that has awesome notes of black fruits, crushed rocks, black olives, and graphite. One of the biggest, richest wines in the vintage, it nevertheless is flawlessly balanced, has ripe, polished tannins, and a great, great finish. Hats off to Mark Harold and Tony Biagi for a stunning wine in a difficult vintage!

The Vineyardist is described by Forbes Magazine as one of “Napa’s hottest…new collector’s wineries.”  Luxury editor Richard Nalley writes: “Dirk Fulton and his wife, Becky Kukkola, spent 10 years finding their perfect gem…, years maturing their seven-acre vineyard and, at the insistence of star winemaker Mark (Merus) Herold, swallowed five vintages themselves before finally debuting their 2009…the new proprietors’ wine will put this secret place on the map.  It is sensational:  California rich but with a supple, European-balance profile…”

In 2000, husband and wife team, Dirk Fulton and Becky Kukkola, purchased the historic property. Inspired by Italy’s classic wine families and their passion for working the land, they searched for ten years to find a suitable site to develop into a world-class wine estate.  
In 2002, Jim Barbour, one of the Valley’s leading viticulturalists, was hired to redevelop the vineyards. He chose the steep, rocky hillside with well-drained soils to plant Cabernet Sauvignon. Organic farming specialist, Phil Coturri, is the estate’s vineyard manager. The terrain’s daytime temperature remains slightly cooler than the Valley floor and experiences somewhat warmer temperatures in the evening due to the ocean breezes from the Chalk Hill Gap. The resulting “banana belt” microclimate is ideal for maturing Cabernet.
Mark Herold was added as winemaker in 2003 to develop the wine program. A true renaissance artisan, he also describes himself as an accomplished scientist and holds a Ph.D in Ecology from University of California-Davis. His success in working with new, highly esteemed wine brands was essential to the creation of a singular wine expressing the estate’s characteristics. The first five vintages were declassified to achieve maximum quality upon our first release. 

Dirk and Becky continue on their path to transform the property into one of Napa Valley’s most respected Cabernet vineyards. They undertook a multi-year project to restore the original 1879 Victorian home and completed its renovation in accordance with Napa Valley landmark standards. As stewards of their land, they farm organically and sustainability. Their estate crops include wine, olive oil, citrus and culinary herbs.