Wine Notes
Vintage:
2019
Appellation:
St. Helena, Napa Valley
Vineyards:
The Calafia Estate Vineyard is located in the center of the St. Helena appellation on Fulton Lane between Main Street and the Napa River. The soil is Bale Loam and contains a fair amount of cobble from the Napa River, which increases our drainage. The vineyard was planted in 2000 and one block was replanted in 2004 due to the discovery of Leaf Roll II in Cabernet Clone 337. Currently the vineyard is planted to 70% Cabernet Sauvignon 20% Malbec and 10% Petit Verdot. All our clones are from the ENTAV certification program in France. Our day-to-day manager is the intrepid Francisco Arigo, who has been our watchful caretaker since the first day in 2000!
Vintage Notes:
Fortunately, the winter of 2019 yielded “normal” rainfall of 30-35” in Napa Valley; the last “good” winter in recent memory. Spring was late but mild and the Bordeaux varieties set a normal crop of 3-4 tons/acre. Mild and even weather continued throughout the summer with a couple of short heat spikes. Veraison started on time in early August and harvest weather was rather cool but uneventful.
Fermentation & Aging:
The grapes were harvested early morning on October 26th, two days earlier than 2018. The sugar was 26.7° Brix, acid was 5.9 grams/liter and the pH was 3.99. The must was sorted removing green “stem jacks”. Fermentation took place in an open tank and punched down (piégage) 3 to 4 times per day. Pressing was very gentle, using a traditional basket press. The barrel-aging regime was 33% new and 67% once-filled French oak using Chateau-Ferré style barrels that are very tight grain. The staves were air-dried for 30 months and received a medium toast level. Aging time was 26 months. These factors allowed the oak to seamlessly integrate with the wine giving a supportive background structure with fine-grain tannins.