Eisele Vineyard, Altagracia, Napa Valley, California, 2023

Overview of the Wine
First planted to vines in the 1880s, Eisele Vineyard sits in the northeast Napa Valley, just east of Calistoga at the base of the Palisades Mountain range. Farmed organically since 1998 and Biodynamically since 2000, the site has been principally dedicated to Cabernet Sauvignon for the last fifty years. Beginning with the inaugural release bearing the Eisele name in 1971, this iconic vineyard has received consistent recognition for possessing one of the great terroirs of Napa Valley. The wines invariably express the exceptional depth, elegance and longevity which are hallmarks of the Eisele Vineyard.

Our vision is nothing less than to re-embrace the long history of Eisele Vineyard while realizing the full potential of this remarkable estate. Preserving and expanding upon the vineyard's distinguished legacy in Napa Valley — and among the great winegrowing estates of the world — is both an honor and our aspiration. Through intellectual rigor, humility, and with the utmost respect for the land, our aim is to make wines that speak of the Eisele Vineyard in the most authentic way possible.

To produce Biodynamic® and organically grown fruit and make singular wines of the highest caliber. To express the uniqueness of the precious resource that is Eisele Vineyard.

Winemaker
Hélène Mingot

Grape / Blend
85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot

Origin
Napa Valley, California

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
The 2023 Altagracia Cabernet Sauvignon offers a youthful, vibrant, and accessible expression of the terroir from the back of the estate and its younger vines. The initial nose is fresh and ethereal, immediately setting the tone. It is driven by bright red fruit aromas, blackcurrant buds, redcurrant, and fresh sour cherry, followed by gentle, comforting notes of white flowers and vanilla that soften and round the profile. With aeration, more complex spicy nuances emerge; including thyme, clove, and Sichuan pepper. Medium-bodied and precise, the wine is shaped by finely etched, chalky tannins that underscore its freshness. Signature menthol notes from our terroirs carry through the back end, adding lift and persistence.

96 Points - James Suckling
A medium-bodied red with a tight and focused palate of blackberries, blueberries, dark chocolate and spices. Solid structure with muscular tannins. 85% cabernet sauvignon, 9% cabernet franc and 6% petit verdot. Needs three to four more years.

95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
Gorgeous red and black fruits, leather, dried flowers, and Asian spice all emerge from the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Altagracia, a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot from estate fruit sourced from the surrounding, more hillside and volcanic parcels of the estate. Aged 21 months in 78% new oak with 22% used Austrian and French foudres, it's remarkably pure and medium to full-bodied, with ripe, velvety tannins and a great finish. It doesn't have the same elegance as the Grand Vin, yet it's still a brilliant wine in its own right that will unquestionably evolve for upwards of two decades. Drink 2025-2045.

94 Points - Wine Advocate
Now produced using only estate-grown fruit, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Altagracia is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. Gentle cedary notes frame ripe black cherries on the nose, while the medium- to full-bodied palate is framed by dusty tannins. Long, velvety and concentrated but already approachable, it's a gorgeous wine to enjoy over the next 15 years or so.

Product size: 750ml