2016 Ramey Wine Cellars Pedregal Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville-Napa Valley

“Pedregal” means a rocky place in Spanish, and that is certainly a distinguishing feature of the site. This is a small, hillside vineyard on the lower slopes of eastern Oakville that is planted to 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot. In 2008, we agreed to a long-term lease of this vineyard giving us complete control even through change in ownership.

2016 began with another very early bloom, leading to a very early harvest; our first fruit arrived August 5. During maturation, summer temperatures were warm and steady, with fewer heat spikes than 2015. Three weeks of cool weather in August and September relaxed the pace of harvest, allowing for methodical picking decisions and perfectly developed fruit. Yields were relatively average – down from 2014 and up from 2015.

87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot: co-fermented

Native-yeast and full natural malolactic fermentations. Aging sur lies with bi-monthly bâtonnage coats the tannins and integrates the wood. The 2016 vintage matured 24 months in new French oak barrels (Taransaud). Non-filtered.