Hundred Acre, 'Wraith', Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2021

Overview of the Wine
A relatively new (cult) domaine, only established in 2000 by the flamboyant winemaker Jayson Woodbridge from Canada in St. Helena (Napa Valley -  California). A specialist “pur sang” who produces high quality wines from principally Cabernet Sauvignon.

The name “Hundred Acre” has been derived from “Hundred Acre Wood”, where Winnie the Pooh and his friends were living. Jayson Woodbridge, who used to be an investment banker, first bought the “Kayli Morgan” vineyard (3,6 Ha) in Howell Mountain already in the 1990’s. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon saw his debut in 2000.

Further acquisitions were the “Ark Vineyard” (6 Ha) and a very small, but well-situated hillside parcel of only 2 Ha, just above the historic “Eisele Vineyard” near Calistoga. His approach in winemaking has been very serious. The vineyards are in excellent condition. Only 1 grape cluster per vine is allowed, so the pruning is very extensive, and the yields are extremely low. During harvest time, at least 5 passes are made through the vineyards and all grapes are hand sorted and selected. He uses new French oak barrels to age his wines for a period of at least 24 months (some of special cuvées age even 36 -42 months!).

Since 2004, a new project has been started in Barossa Valley (Australia), to produce some extraordinary wines from the Shiraz grape. Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to lay your hands onto some bottles unless you are on the mailing list. Furthermore, some of his wines received the perfect score in certain vintages, so his collection of wines is in high demand.

Grape / Blend
Cabernet Sauvignon

Origin
Napa Valley, California

Winemaker Tasting Notes
Aromas of blackberries, dark cherries, and violets unfold with hints of graphite, tobacco, and dark chocolate. The palate is expansive yet polished, offering layers of ripe cassis, espresso, and cedar spice. Refined tannins and incredible depth lead to a lingering, opulent finish.

100 Points - Decanter
Hundred Acre owner-winemaker Jayson Woodbridge describes Wraith as the perfect snapshot of a vintage, defined by a blend of all three of his estate single vineyards—Ark, Few and Far Between, and Morgan’s Way. Aged for 40 months in extremely fine, centre-cut French oak barriques with ultra-tight graining, this wine captures the essence of each vineyard while forming a cohesive whole. 'Every vintage of Hundred Acre has a thread that connects it to the first', Woodbridge tells me as I taste this wine, 'Weaving the fabric of each new vintage, Wraith is like a time machine, revealing each vineyard’s unique characteristics in a singular expression. You can sense all three vineyards merging into one entity, creating the masterpiece that is Wraith.' If you were to taste all three Hundred Acre wines, then Wraith, you might pick out the umami-rich character of Few and Far Between, the red-toned, zesty mineral character of Ark, or the brooding muscularity of Morgan's Way. Still, above all, that unmistakable complex fabric of Hundred Acre is evident in each sip. The 2021 Wraith is coiled up, seductive, and red berry-driven, with loads of black truffle and earthy notes. It’s like the Burning Man of wine—rip-roaringly insane, full of energy, magic, and mystery. Yes, there’s plenty of red and blackberry fruit, laced with currants and sweet spices, but the floral nuances and dried perfumed aromatics elevate this wine to something otherworldly. (JC)

100 Points - Wine Independent
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2021 Wraith is a touch subdued to start, needing a bit of patient swirling to bring out the complex perfume of iris, dark chocolate, anise, and cassis, opening out to a profound core of juicy plums and a myriad of earthy/loamy scents. The full-bodied palate is built like a skyscraper with a solid structure of firm, fine-grained tannins and with a refreshing backbone lifting the intricate perfume to an epically long finish. A wine that is as breathtakingly beautiful as it is cerebral. (LPB)

99 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
Red, blue, and black fruit, graphite, darker chocolate, sappy tobacco, and spring flowers all define the aromatics of the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Wraith, which comes from a blend of multiple vineyards. It's deep, rich, and powerful, yet also weightless on the palate, with silky tannins and a blockbuster of a finish. The idea with Wraith is to highlight the vintage as opposed to a site, and this beauty can be enjoyed any time over the coming 20-30 years. Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck, Issue date: January 2025. Drinking window: 2025 - 2055.

Product size: 750ml