2021 Arkenstone "Amoenus Vineyard" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The Amoenus Vineyard, nestled in the western hills of Calistoga near the base of Mount St. Helena, is a small site planted in the late 1990s that requires three separate picks to ensure optimal ripening. This full-bodied wine boasts soaring tannins that grip the palate with impressive intensity, perfectly complementing the ripe, bright mulberry, crunchy red fruit, graphite, and blue fruit flavours. Hints of blue florals and dried lilacs add a delicate aromatic lift, while a firm spine of acidity keeps everything light and fresh through the mineral-laced finish. With remarkable staying power, this wine delivers both power and elegance in equal measure. (JC)

Still in barrel at the time of my November visit, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus Vineyard was scheduled to be bottled in January 2024. Three blocks, each planted to a different clone/selection went into this wine, which is floral and fragrant, with delicate herb shadings laid gently over a base of black cherries. Full-bodied and plush, this velvety wine is large-scaled but balanced, rich and concentrated, with a long, firmly tannic finish. (JC)