Accendo, Laurea Red, Napa Valley, California, 2019

Overview of the Wine
Bart and Daphne have always said their best wine has yet to be made.

This was their philosophy as the proprietors of Araujo Estate and stewards of the historic Eisele Vineyard, and it is their guiding principle today with Accendo Cellars, the Napa Valley winegrowing venture founded in 2013. Inspired by the revolutionary Napa Valley wines of the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s, Accendo pays homage to an earlier era and marks a beginning of a promising new paradigm: to source grapes from some of the finest vineyard sites and terroir in Napa Valley; to make a wine of balance and restraint in the style of Napa Valley’s past wines; and to produce this wine with the commitment, energy and meticulous attention to detail that have characterized their past efforts.

They are grateful to be joined by their daughter, Jaime Araujo Bézian, and son, Greg Araujo, as well as a small team of professionals they have worked with for many years, people who share their passion and, most importantly, their values. Applying what they know collectively about grape growing and winemaking, Bart and Daphne's aim is to create a world-class wine that expresses ecological diversity and focused stewardship.

For years Napa Valley has nurtured and humbled them in ways they could never have imagined. It is the hope that Accendo will shine a new light on this magical place they call home.

Grape / Blend
91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc

Origin
Napa Valley, California

Winemaker Tasting Notes
The nose of the 2019 Laurea is pristine, pure and energetic, open and inviting. Notes of cassis and blackberry predominate the intense aromatics, creating an alluringly fragrant wine that demands to be tasted immediately. On the palate, the wine offers an abundance of flavors of brambly black fruits that are rich, round and juicy, all supported by notes of ash and tar, with super fine tannins that lend gravitas to this overtly generous wine.

93 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Laurea is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Cabernet Franc. The nose is wonderfully perfumed, offering scents of red roses, Ceylon tea and licorice over a core of warm cassis, blueberry compote and kirsch with a touch of tilled soil. Full-bodied, ripe and juicy in the mouth, it has a velvety texture and a spicy kick to the finish.

Product size: 750ml