Peju, Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

 For some years now winemaker Sara Fowler has done a vintage “experiment” where she takes a lot of Cabernet and distributes it among barrels that feature different coopers, woods, toast levels and styles, and then invites other valley winemakers to come and taste the differences.  As you might imagine, this is a hugely useful exercise, and true to form, Ms. Fowler chooses to share rather than hoard the information.  Of course the consumer is the real beneficiary here, getting to taste Sara’s take on the best blend of what this year resulted from 37 different toasting styles and 22 different coopers.  This time around you get 85% French oak and 15% American oak, resulting in a bouquet that adds a dash of dill to the vanilla and cedar chest spice notes that complement deep blackberry and cassis.  I’d age this a while to fully integrate the spice tones – five to ten years would be just fine.