Celani Family Vineyards, Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

 In a recent virtual tasting, Tom Celani explained that he was excited to acquire a property in Napa Valley in 2005 that had both a vineyard and a winery.  The winery was important to him because he felt he had more control of the wine.  However, he also said “We didn’t have a winemaker.” He consulted his friend, John Shafer, whose wines he loved.  Shafer said, “if I was hiring today, I would hire Mark Herold.  He’s a brilliant guy.”  Celani met Herold, tasted his Merus wines and Herold has made every Celani wines since.  “I love learning from him, and every year I work with him I learn more.”  Grapes for this Cabernet Sauvignon come from several vineyards in the Vaca Mountain range, primarily in Coombsville.  It spends 20 months in 90 percent new French oak and is bottled unfiltered and unfined.  It is rich and complex, with concentrated blackberry, cherry and cassis fruit notes laced with accents of dark chocolate, vanilla, and light toastiness.  The sumptuous fruit is tempered with a backbone of vibrant acidity and fine-grained tannins.  Enjoy it with a grilled tenderloin or a wild mushroom stew.