2015 Bure Family Duration Cabernet Sauvignon

Bure Family Winery was started by the husband and wife team of Valeri Bure and his wife Candace. Valeri was a professional hockey player and Candace is a television actor. Born in Moscow, Valeri learned to appreciate wine while playing hockey professionally in Montreal. He retired from hockey in 2005 and he and Candace bought a wine estate in Napa Valley. In a nod to his Russian and Swiss heritage and his life in hockey, every bottle of Bure Family wine includes a bird of prey, once the symbol of the royal Russian family, grasping a hockey stick in a talon. A 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon blend was the inaugural vintage.

Oakville AVA is one of the two or three most prestigious appellations in the United States. Located in the heart of Napa Valley, its 5,000 vineyard acres produce some of the world’s most acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon, including such California “cult” Cabs as Screaming Eagle and Harlan Estate. Before those boutique producers rose to fame in the 1990s, Oakville was already renowned as home to Robert Mondavi, Opus One and Groth Vineyards, among others. Along with the famous wineries, there are premier vineyards in this AVA, including Martha’s Vineyard and To Kalon Vineyard. To Kalon was first planted in 1868 by H.W. Crabb, one of California’s first viticultural researchers, and he named the vineyard after the ancient Greek phrase for “most beautiful.” Though many grapes can be successfully grown in Oakville, Cabernet Sauvignon is king. Merlot and Chardonnay are also frequently planted. Oakville Cabs are prized for their richness, complexity and weight. Oakville was designated as an AVA in 1993.

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.