2010 Barrett & Barrett Cabernet Sauvignon

Barrett & Barrett is the winemaking enterprise of two of Napa Valley’s winemaking legends, Bo and Heidi Barrett. A married couple for nearly three decades, each is also a much admired winemaker. Heidi made Screaming Eagle from 1992 to 2006, and has also been winemaker at Dalla Valle and consulting winemaker at numerous estates. Her own labels include La Sirena wines. Bo has been winemaker at Chateau Montelena since 1982, and is also famous for having taken his father Chateau Montelena Chardonnay to the 1976 Paris Wine Tasting in which two California wines won top prizes. The 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay won the white division. At Barrett & Barrett the couple makes only one wine, an estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Barrett family vineyards in Calistoga.

Calistoga AVA is one of Napa Valley’s newer appellations, having been given appellation status in 2010. It is notable for its volcanic soil, which is unusual in the Napa Valley. Calistoga also experiences the greatest average 24-hour temperature swing of any Napa Valley AVAs, which Calistoga grape growers insist give the grapes time to “cool down” at night, making for better balanced wines. The 1,500 Calistoga vineyard acres are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Sirah, along with smaller amounts of other varietals. Calistoga is at the northern end of Napa Valley, northwest of the Diamond District and St. Helena AVAs. Longtime winemaker Bo Barrett of Chateau Montelena, which is located in the Calistoga AVA, proposed the creation of the appellation.

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.