2016 Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon: A Masterpiece!

Today we are excited to offer these immaculate MAGNUMS of the double 100-point Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. If there was a wine to bridge the gap between New World and Old World Bordeaux varietals, it would be Eisele. The 2016 is built like a brick house and shows immense structure and promise. At just $950 for a 1.5L, this is something you will want deep in the cellar. 

Eisele Vineyard History:

Although continuously under vine since the 1880s, one would have to say that the modern history of the Eisele vineyard started in 1971 with Paul Draper’s legendary Ridge ‘Eisele Vineyard’ Cabernet. 

The second Eisele vineyard designate was produced by Conn Creek in 1974, to equal acclaim, and from 1975 to 1991, wine visionary Joseph Phelps continued the tradition, producing what would become a long line of legendary Cabernets from the Eisele Vineyard. Stewardship of the vineyard was taken over by the Araujos in 1990, where they created some of the Napa Valley’s greatest and most sought after wines.

That brings us to the current owners -the Pinault Family - who also run a little property in Bordeaux called Chateau Latour.  Greatness from this fabulous terroir continues unabated, with the 2013 release and a change in name from Araujo Eisele Vineyard, to just Eisele Vineyard. This marks the beginning of a new chapter and a new label for one of the most significant vineyards in the world.

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep garnet-purple color. Its nose begins a little reserved, slowly revealing a quiet intensity of freshly crushed blackberries, chocolate-covered cherries, cassis and aniseed with compelling nuances of black tea, cigar box, truffles and charcuterie, plus, with coaxing, gentle wafts of red roses and crushed rocks emerge. The medium to full-bodied palate is simply arresting, offering a myriad floral and earth sparks amidst a black fruit core and with seamless, firm, very fine-grained tannins. Well-knit freshness brings forth layer after layer of delicate nuances on the very long, mineral-laced finish. The team at Eisele, led by Frédéric Engerer (of Chateau Latour) and beautifully orchestrated by winemaker Hélène Mingot, have knocked it out of the park this vintage with this singular expression that both embraces the site's heritage and reveals parts unknown.

100 Pts - Robert Parker 

 One of the most legendary vineyards in the Napa Valley, the Eisele Vineyard was purchased by François Pinault of Château Latour in Pauillac in the Médoc, Bordeaux from the Araujo family which had owned it for 23 years (from 1990 to 2013). The winemaking is now in the hands of 41-year-old winemaker Hélène Mingot. For this vintage, Hélène used only rockiest blocks planted in shallow soils near Simmons Creek. Drinking Window 2019-2050 

100 Pts - Decanter