DOMINUS 2012

The Dominus 2012 exemplifies the finest qualities of Cabernet Sauvignon from an ideal vintage. The intriguing nose offers a depth of aromas including lavender, Asian spices and cedar. Soft, supple tannins buoy layers of dark earth and cocoa. The wine is racy yet refined with a long elegant finish.

The 2012 vintage is composed of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot.

VINTAGE SUMMARY

2012 enjoyed a perfect growing season. Plentiful rainfall in March and April lessened winter drought concerns, and a mild spring with few temperature fluctuations contributed to an even budbreak and a healthy bloom. Summer temperatures were consistently warm, without excessive heat spikes, which provided conditions for slow, homogenous maturation of fruit, exhibiting great character and richness.

BEGINNING DATE OF HARVEST: October 9
FINAL DATE OF HARVEST: October 21
PERCENTAGE OF NEW BARRELS: 40%
BOTTLING DATE: June 2014
9-LITER CASES PRODUCED: 4600
RELEASE DATE: June 2015

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DOMINUS 2013

VINTAGE SUMMARY

2013 was characterized by a very dry spring and a consistently warm summer/early fall.

Only 6.4 inches of rainfall were recorded from January to June (versus 17.7 inches average).

Low reserves of soil water limited vine growth.

While average temperatures remained warm throughout spring and summer, no heat spikes were recorded in July, August or September.

In terms of thermal time (growing degree days), the season was 18 days ahead of the norm at the beginning of harvest (September 10).

BLEND: Cabernet Sauvignon: 89%, Petit Verdot: 7%, Cabernet Franc: 4%
HARVEST START: September 10
HARVEST END: September 26
BOTTLING DATE: July 2015
PERCENT NEW BARRELS: 40%
CASES PRODUCED: 3500
RELEASE DATE: June 2016

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2012 

Caymus Special Selection is the flagship wine of the Wagner family and is comprised of the very best barrels of the vintage. This wine is not produced in difficult years. 

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2013 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage
The 2013 vintage began with a warm, dry spring and relatively early bud break. Summer was notably consistent with even, warm temperatures throughout. Harvest began quite early in August, and by September the majority of whites and lighter reds were completely off the vines. Cool yet sunny weather in October allowed the final grapes on the vine to linger and develop great phenolic and flavor maturities while maintaining steady sugar levels. Overall, it was a high quality crop that was above average in quantity.

Appellation Components
81% Howell Mountain, 11% St. Helena, 4% Calistoga, 4% Mount Veeder

Varietal Components
96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot

Winemaker
Laurie Hook

Tasting Note
Tasted September, 2016
The 2013 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is an exceptional expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the best vintages in years. The enticing aromas of ripe blackberry, boysenberry, fresh tobacco, brown spice and sweet mint are profound in the glass. Dense and well-structured, its supple tannins are complemented by notes of espresso, mocha and balanced with a silky and elegant finish. 

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TOR Cabernet Sauvignon

Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, 2012

Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Production: 975 cases

Release date: January 2015

Vintage
It is funny, but “classic” and “perfect” are words bantered about a lot about this bountiful, beautiful vintage. To me it was “classic” growing conditions - early bud break, no frost damage, relatively dry spring, with less than an inch in April, then nothing till October, and less than an inch that final month of harvest. One heat spike in June, another in early October, but just beautiful other- wise, with very cool evenings and warm, idyllic days. It was a ‘perfect’ year to be a farmer. Yet a vintner had to beware, for after two very short crops in 2010 and 2011 - 2012 set a big crop that had to be thinned many times. We managed this crop religiously in all our vineyards, some with draconian vigor, and because of that, only can I roughly use the word, “perfect”. Man had to interfere to bring things into balance for what will easily be termed a great Napa Valley vintage.

Vineyards
Beckstoffer To Kalon continues to receive worldwide accolades, particularly in the last decade. The vineyard is on a gentle slope on the western foothills of the Oakville appellation. Top soils are Bale loam/Bale clay loam, and running through the middle and west side of the vineyard are remnants of old stream beds riddled with rock. For the last decade we have worked with six blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon and two blocks of Cabernet Franc. Each vintage tells a different story, and the best wines can be single blocks, or blends of blocks. This is the first year all the Cabernet Sauvignon blocks seem to all fit together in one blend. When this happens we simply and proudly say “The sum is greater than the parts.”

Winemaking
The 2012 To Kalon Cabernet was one of the longest and slowest fermentations we have ever had. This helped to preserve the fruit and extract more color and sweet tannin. This was given no more than two pump-overs a day and toward the end of its fermentation was only given a single pump-over each day. After pressing the wine slightly, it was moved to its traditional mix of Darnajou and Taransaud wood. This wine received the normal three rackings, instead of the two in 2011.

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TOR Cabernet Sauvignon

Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, 2013

Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Production: 600 cases

Release date: January 2016

Vintage
It started with a warm, early, and dry spring. This is always an advantage, for it gets everything starting uniformly on the right path. The set was smaller than 2012. At the end of June we saw a few days of our only 100 degree weather for the year, then back to ideal growing conditions until we wanted to pick. Some white varietals started to come in the first part of August, making it one of the earliest harvests in recent history. Cabernet Sauvignon was the latest. In September the weather began its fall cooling cycle, and a few light showers slowed the growing pattern till October when we picked most of our Cabernet Family grapes. A long, beautiful growing season for Cabernet Sauvignon.

Vineyards
Beckstoffer To Kalon continues to receive worldwide accolades, particularly in the last decade. The vineyard is on a gentle slope on the western foothills of the Oakville appellation. Top soils are Bale loam/Bale clay loam, and running through the middle and west side of the vineyard are remnants of old stream beds riddled with rock. For the last decade we have worked with six blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon and two blocks of Cabernet Franc. Each vintage tells a different story, and the best wines can be single blocks, or blends of blocks. In 2013 our F Block at the far western edge of the vineyard at the highest part of the To Kalon bench were the stars of this wine.

Winemaking
The 2013 To Kalon Cabernet was a more 'normal' fermentation for us than the 2012, and took about 12 days to finish. The resulting wine is a bit more structured and leans more to the dark fruit than red. This was given no more than two pump-overs a day and toward the end of its fermentation was only given a single pump-over each day. After pressing the wine slightly, it was moved to its traditional mix of Darnajou and Taransaud wood. This wine received the normal three racking’s until bottling.