Maitre de Chai Cabernet Sauvignon Gala Mountain Vineyard 2021

When Marty and Alex first walked into this vineyard, they knew they HAD to work with this fruit even though working with Cabernet was never in the plan. Planted in 1992 on rocky volcanic bedrock on the slopes of Mt. George, about 1000ft above the floor of the Napa Valley—this is just high enough to get constant breezes from the San Pablo Bay. Converted to biodynamic farming from organic in 2018, this farmed by hand. A beautifully unique example of old school, “pre-prohibition” style mountain Cabernet. The vines here produce very small clusters, which lend a really beautiful deep and saturated palate with a firm multi-dimensional tannin. The tannin hits up front at first, which alongside the volcanic terroir has us thinking of Etna, then continues up the side with fruit density like in Tuscany and finishes with a hard mineral toned and linear mid-palate. This is savage mountain wine that delivers and you can absolutely pull the cork now with great pleasure.