2016 Bell Wine Cellars Longtable Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Bell Wine Cellars in Yountville was founded in 1998 by winemaker Anthony Bell. A native of South Africa, Bell earned viticultural degrees in South Africa and California before beginning a 15-year career at Beaulieu Vineyards, and, later starting his own winemaking venture. In 2002 Bell sold part interest in his winery to Ron Berberian, a wine wholesaler, and Alex Spanos, an NFL team owner. Bell remains winemaker, and the estate produces both red and white wines. Along with estate vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Bell Wine Cellars produces Pinot Noir with Oregon grapes, as well as Syrah and other reds sourced from California vineyards. The estate also produces white wines, Port and sparkling wine.

Mount Veeder AVA was established in 1993, though its origins as a wine producing district date to the 19th century. A German Presbyterian pastor named Peter Veeder was one of the first landowners in the area, and by 1864 one of his neighbors, a German sea captain named Stelham Wing, was producing wine commercially. The area continued to attract German agricultural entrepreneurs, some of whom established the estate that would later become the Christian Brothers Mont La Salle winery. Today the AVA includes about 1,000 acres of vineyards, most of them at relatively high altitudes. The Mayacamas vineyard, for instance, is at 2,400 feet. Cabernet Sauvignon is the most frequently planted grape, followed by Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

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.