The cellar has been bustling with activity these last few days as we’ve bottled our 2013 Napa Valley Cabernet. As you might imagine, the process is a delicate one requiring long hours and persistent attention to detail, from the team which applies the parchment labels to those running the bottling line and the crew filling and carefully stacking wooden boxes.

Well, today is our last day bottling this vintage! Winemaker Nicole Marchesi opened a bottle last night and says this is a classic Cabernet from our Martin Stelling Vineyard. The wine is bigger in texture than the 2012, but it exhibits the dark berry and chocolate flavors inherent to our Oakville Cabernet. Even in its youth, this wine is balanced, and the high color and tannin indicate that it will age beautifully over the years.

The hard work on this vintage is almost done, and now for the even harder task: patience!