2009 B Cellars Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

B Cellars was established in 2003 when Jim Borsack and Duffy Keys decided to step back from previous careers and produce wine. Winemaker Kirk Venge soon joined the team. The label and logo stand for the BRIX scale, which is a system used to measure the sugar content of grapes and wine. B Cellars sources grapes from many of Napa’s premier vineyards, producing a large portfolio of blends and single vineyards wines. Included are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and proprietary blends.

St. Helena AVA is at the northern end of Napa Valley just north of Rutherford and south of Calistoga. It is a relatively warm climate thanks to the Mayacamas Mountains on its western edge, which protect it from Pacific Ocean fog. Out of the 9,000 acres in the appellation, some 1,500 are under vine. The principal grapes grown in St. Helena are the Bordeaux grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. St. Helena is considered prime wine producing territory, and it was one of the first important wine producing regions in northern California. The legendary Charles Krug founded his winery just north of the town of St. Helena in 1873, and today the appellation is home to many prestigious producers, including Abreu, Grace Family and Spottswoode.

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.