2016 Kate's & B's Cabernet Sauvignon

Kate’s & B’s is named after Founder Chris James’ wife, Bradley, and Winemaker Ames Morison’s wife, Kate. The blocks where the fruit is sourced are reflective of classic Bordeaux territory – high-density vine spacing, gravely clay soils, tiny yields of small inky-black berries, and a thoughtful clonal selection matched by a rigorous farming regime. 

Kate’s & B’s is reminiscent of a Château Margaux or Château Palmer from a stylistic standpoint. Rich and voluptuous without being ponderous. The 2016 Kate’s & B’s shows plenty of fruit up front, with blackberry, ripe blueberry, and a hint of raspberry. The fruit is supported by notes of cinnamon and roasted espresso. On the palate the wine is lusciously smooth, with silky tannins, great weight and complexity. With a backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon, in blending, we balanced the strong impact of the fruit by adding a small amount of Petit Verdot to provide acidity and inky black color. We farm a small amount of Malbec so we use this judiciously to add plushness to the wine. We use a mix of new, one-year, and neutral French oak that respects the fruit without overwhelming it. This wine is the reason we love having a wine cellar. Enjoy a bottle now, and one every year for the next decade. 

Vintage

The 2016 vintage began with a warm spring and some late rains that gave us an early budbreak and enough water to provide good early season vine growth despite being in the tail end of a severe drought. June and July were warmer than usual, but when we approached the key ripening months of August and September, the weather cooled significantly, allowing a slow approach to maturity. These conditions favor good fruit development without excessively high alcohol. Exactly the kind of wine we love to make.