Trailside Vineyard 2018

Trailside Vineyard is a winery located in Napa Valley, on the eastern side of the Rutherford commune, in the heart of the Napa Valley AVA in California. Owned by Heitz Cellar, it benefits from a Mediterranean climate tempered by the breeze from San Pablo Bay and a gentle slope exposure. The gravelly, well-drained alluvial soils, typical of Rutherford, promote slow and regular grape ripening, resulting in structured, balanced Cabernet Sauvignons with a strong sense of terroir.

Made from hand-harvested grapes from the Trailside Vineyard in Rutherford, this Cabernet Sauvignon is traditionally vinified, with fermentation in stainless steel tanks to preserve the purity of the fruit and the tannic structure. After devatting, the wine is aged for a long period in oak barrels, mostly American, following the classic style of the house, to develop complex aromas of blackcurrant, cedar, and sweet spices while retaining the freshness and elegance characteristic of the estate.

This wine reveals notes of ripe blackcurrant, black cherry, and plum, complemented by floral touches of violet and dried rose. Spicy nuances of sweet pepper and garrigue mingle with subtle woody notes of cedar, blond tobacco, and vanilla. The palate offers a silky texture, fresh acidity, fine yet firm tannins, and a long and saline finish that highlights the elegance of Rutherford Cabernet.

In the United States, 90% of the wine produced comes from California. It was the influx of gold prospectors to California that revitalized the Californian wine industry in the mid-19th century, particularly in the Sonoma and Napa regions. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were 800 wineries. From 1919 to 1933, Prohibition decimated the vast majority of the Californian wine industry, so that by 1933, only 140 wineries remained. It wasn't until 1960 that the wine industry began to recover from Prohibition, and California was primarily known for producing fortified wines (in the style of Port). It was also in the 1960s that some of the most famous wineries were established (Mondavi, Heitz Wine Cellars, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, etc.). In 1976, a landmark event took place: the legendary tasting competition better known as the "Judgment of Paris." It pitted the greatest French wines against the new American upstarts. On May 24th, an unexpected result shook the wine world, as, to everyone's surprise, the United States emerged victorious. This competition, however, remains relatively unknown to the general public. Today, there is no doubt that the United States produces great wines. While California largely dominates the reputation of American wines with its excellent Zinfandels, the state of Oregon produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world, and Washington State offers excellent Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.