2016 Kate's & B's Cabernet Sauvignon 3L

Kate’s and 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.