Annulus, Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, Napa Valley, California, 2021

Overview of the Wine
We’ve been fortunate to call the Napa Valley home for more than two decades. Living in this beautiful place, we have forged cherished friendships and close partnerships with world-renowned vintners, growers, and winemakers and honed our love of fine wines. After years of dreaming and planning, together with our daughters Alexandra and Elena, we are delighted to present Annulus and our own interpretation of the wines and Napa Valley vineyards we love.

The spirit and passion we bring to Annulus is also reflected in our decades-long dedication to unraveling the mysteries of a rare, life-threatening autoimmune disease called scleroderma.  

As Board Members of the Scleroderma Research Foundation (SRF) and Directors of the research program, we have spent many years building a pioneering research portfolio and an innovative global clinical trial platform designed to advance new therapies for scleroderma.

Each year, as a part of our fundraising efforts, we join forces with a star-studded group of comedians, actors, musicians and chefs for the cause at the SRF’s signature event, “Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine.”

Grape / Blend
100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Origin
Oakville, Napa Valley, California

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
In 2021, an early bud break, a long hang time, low yields, and a smaller leaf canopy yielded intense, concentrated fruit at Vine Hill Ranch. 

Bright aromatics of cranberries and chocolate reflect a beautifully balanced crop, while small berries translate into a palate densely packed with blue and black fruit, accented by cigar box and spice. The long finish is powered by minerality and beautifully integrated, ultra-fine tannins.

98 Points - Decanter
Incredibly polished and refined with no hard edges. Superfine tannins are intricate and lengthy, underscored by a firm spine of lacy acidity. The fruit profile is pure, ripe, and succulent, with a density lifted by that bright spine of acidity. Flavors and aromas of blackberry and black cherry are nuanced by crushed cocoa nibs, tobacco and rich earth on the lengthy finish. Gorgeous now and capable of long-term cellaring.

97 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
This dense, inky-hued effort offers a killer bouquet of chocolatey dark fruits, dried herbs, tobacco, and loamy earth… Full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful, it stays balanced and has ultra-fine tannins and a great finish.

97 Points - James Suckling
Luscious, deep and concentrated in black fruit and dark chocolate, braced by dense, massive fine-grained tannins that bode well for aging. Dark spices, star anise, black cherries, baked blueberries and touches of vanilla bean and tobacco. Best from 2030.

96 Points - Wine Spectator
This is rich and dense, offering steeped plum, black currant and boysenberry reduction notes welded together with graphite, licorice root and walnut husk accents. There’s a broad feel and a deep tug of warm loam through the finish, with ample energy in reserve.

Product size: 750ml