TASTING NOTES: The GOTT 15 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of blackberry, cherry, licorice and cocoa with hints of spice. The wine opens with dark, concentrated fruit flavors followed by soft, velvety tannins on the mid-palate, which are balanced by an elegant structure and a long finish. VINEYARD NOTES: We selected the fruit for this wine from Sugarloaf Vineyard in Napa and Crocker-Talcott Vineyard in St. Helena. Cabernet Sauvignon grown on Sugarloaf Vineyard’s hillsides in Napa brings power, weight and well-structured tannins to the wine. The Cabernet grapes at St. Helena’s Crocker-Talcott Vineyard adds soft, red fruit character, while Petit Verdot from CrockerTalcott lends spicy undertones, a rich mouthfeel and complexity to the blend. A small amount of Malbec is blended to add power, structure and well-balanced acidity. HARVEST NOTES: Across California in 2015, bud break came early, preceding a cool spring and moderate summer. Late summer heat waves created one of the shortest growing seasons to date, prompting us to pick our fruit earlier than usual. Optical sorting was done to ensure only the best berries go through to the fermentation process. Harvest wrapped up by the end of September, delivering Cabernet Sauvignon fruit with rich, ripe flavor, tannins and structure. WINEMAKING NOTES: Following harvest, we co-fermented the Cabernet Sauvignon fruit with Malbec to ensure ideal color stabilization and soften the Cabernet Sauvignon’s powerful tannins. The wine was aged for 22 months, with 95% in new French oak and 5% in one-year-old French oak.