2014 Red Cap Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (1 X 750 ML)

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The Davies family, proprietors of Schramsberg Vineyards and J. Davies Estate in Napa Valley, presents its second bottling of the Red Cap Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the valley’s Howell Mountain District. Building upon its experience with its home property on Diamond Mountain in the valley’s western Mayacamas Range, this bottling represents the Davies team’s effort with Cabernet Sauvignon from the valley’s eastern Vaca Range. Second-generation Vintner Hugh Davies, Director of Winemaking Sean Thompson and Consultant Celia Welch have collaborated well together since 2008 in crafting Davies Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons, and they are very proud to present this unique vineyard-designate bottling from the 2014 vintage.

The Vineyard
The Red Cap vineyard is located near the summit of Howell Mountain at an elevation of 1900 feet, along the western facing Vaca Mountain range. On this location, the Aiken loam and red rocky volcanic soils provide great root support and drainage, growing grapes which contain a round, balanced structure. The berries are also much smaller on the mountain side, providing higher skin to juice ratio, deepening the color of the wine while increasing tannins. Red Cap's position above the fog line has a broad temperature range throughout the day. When compared to the valley floor, evening temperatures are warmer and daytime temperatures are cooler which supports greater acid retention within the grapes. This combination of soil and environment leads to an extraordinary site for growing delicious Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tasting notes

The 2014 Red Cap Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits aromas of red cherry and fresh strawberry combined with baking spice, cumin and black tea. The palate is lively, complex and fruitful. Flavors of dried cherry and blueberry mingle with mountain sage and tobacco notes, all seamlessly tied together with structured and quenching acid that leads to a delicate finish.- Winemakers Sean Thompson, Hugh Davies and Celia Welch

Reviews

94 Points
From a site on Howell Mountain, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Cap is an exotic wine. Orange peel, rose petal, smoke and bright red-toned fruit are some of the signatures. The Red Cap is a delicate, at times ethereal, Cabernet that emphasizes understated finesse above all else.- Vinous (December 2016)
91 Points
Cabernets from Howell Mountain are more often than not cut from sturdy cloth and can be unforgivingly tannic when young, but the new Red Cap bottling from Davies is an uncommonly refined version that trades sinew for suppleness and finesse. It is solidly Cabernet in focus and fruit and shows lovely accents of sweet oak and dusty soil to its ongoing message of very deep and sustained currants. Its hard-to-miss sense of layering and terrific palatal length are the certain signs of even better to come, and, if those short on patience will find lots to like in the shorter term, those with the self-discipline to wait for another five-plus years will be handsomely rewarded.- Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine (December 2017)
90 Points
Pure and rich, this is focused on dense dark berry, mocha, licorice and cedary oak flavors. Packs a wallop, yet has touches of grace and finesse if you look. Best from 2020 through 2032.- Wine Spectator (October 2017)

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