Background

S.L.V. was first planted in 1970, and the vineyard quickly showed its quality when the 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon won the famous Paris tasting in 1976. As most of the 1970s-era vines have aged past their grape-producing prime, they have been gradually replanted, perpetuating the life of this historic vineyard. Although bud-break in Napa Valley was early in 2016, the season was much cooler than normal. We didn’t get the usual high heat in July and August, which provided for a longer hang time for the grapes. Overall, quality was high and particularly at our FAY and S.L.V. estate vineyards. The grapes in FAY and S.L.V. ripened uniformly and while yields were a bit lower than average, the flavors were great, and the tannins were soft and supple.

Tasting notes

Rich and complex with aromas of currants, violets, and dusty cocoa powder. Generous dark fruit flavors dominate the palate and meld with hints of graphite. The tannins are structured but have a soft edge and the wine finishes with a dark chocolate note. The tannin structure, rich dark fruit, and pleasing minerality point to this wine’s ability to age.

Winemaking

Each lot was vinified and aged separately in small French oak barrels for 20 months, allowing the characteristics of each block to develop. With this vintage, Winemaker Marcus Notaro used careful barrel selection to marry the unique graphite, dark fruit and cocoa characters of S.L.V. to the barrel type and toast level. In the latter stages of aging, the barrel lots were blended to create this 2016 offering.

Food pairings

Enjoy with grilled paprika-marinated skirt steak
or tomato braised pork over pasta.