2016 Barnett Vineyards Rattlesnake Cabernet Sauvignon

Barnett Vineyards is in the Spring Mountain District of Napa Valley. It was founded in 1983 by Fiona and Hall Barnett, and the debut vintage was a 1989 Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate’s 40 acres of vineyards are at the top of Spring Mountain and are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Besides its estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Barnett produces Chardonnay and Pinot Noir sourced from vineyards in Carneros, Anderson Valley and the Russian River district.

Spring Mountain AVA is above the town of St. Helena on the eastern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains. There is no actual Spring Mountain, but the name has traditionally been used for the area, which includes many streams and springs. Spring Mountain was awarded appellation status in 1993 and it includes about 1,000 vineyard acres. Vineyard elevations are high, from 400 to 2,600 feet above sea level. Because of the altitude of most vineyards, which are above the fog line, mornings become warm earlier than vineyards on the valley floor, though the afternoons are cooled by maritime winds. The result is an exceptionally long growing season. Cabernet Sauvignon is the most frequently planted grape by acreage, followed by Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay.

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.