2012 Silverado Vineyards GEO Cabernet Sauvignon

Silverado Vineyards is in Yountville, in Napa Valley. It was founded in 1981 when Diane and Ron Miller purchased the property. Their inaugural releases were 1981 Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blancs and Cabernet Sauvignon. Today the estate owns 345 acres and makes a portfolio of wines, including Merlot and Sangiovese. Flagship wines remain the reserve Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays.

Coombsville AVA is one of Napa Valley’s newer appellations, having received its official designation only in 2011. Tucked just to the northeast of Los Carneros and a few minutes’ drive east of downtown Napa, the Coombsville appellation is relatively large at a total of 11,000 acres. The elevation varies from 100 to 1,000 feet, and the climate is moderated by marine breezes from the San Pablo Bay. The main grape varieties here are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Syrah and Pinot Noir.

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.