2002 Etude St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon

Etude Wines was founded in 1982 by Tony and Michelle Soter. The winery and its vineyards are in the Carneros appellation of California’s Napa Valley. Tony Soter was the winemaker at Spottswoode, Araujo, Niebaum-Coppola, Dalle Valle and Moraga before giving up his consulting career to concentrate on his own venture. Today Etude produces Pinot Noir from Carneros region grapes, and Cabernet Sauvignon from grapes grown farther north in Napa Valley. Etude also makes Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and a few other white wines.

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.