2018 MORISOLI CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Vines & Farming
100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Morisoli Vineyard in the Rutherford AVA. The vines are all bilateral, cordon trained and were planted in 1992 on Clone 7/8 using 110R & 1103P rootstocks. The vineyard is still farmed by the Morisoli Family as it has been since 1902. Gary, Melody and son Chris Morisoli still use original tractors and vintage implements to farm the old way. A French plow is used to kill weeds around the vines instead of using sprays, and the vineyard is disced regularly to maintain moisture in the soil. Irrigation is used sparingly during the summer to maintain vine health during heat spells. Harvest is completed in the early morning by hand using the same crew, year to year. A cover crop of plow-down legumes (Sweet Peas, Vetch and Fava Beans) is planted to return nitrogen and other nutrients to the soil every year after harvest and sub soil ripping.
2018 was a picture perfect year with significant winter rains and warm temperatures in the summer created a balanced and ripe fruit with well resolved tannins. A late summer full of 80-85F days created the perfect ripening weather with ample amount of “hangtime”. 2.46 tons of Cabernet Sauvignon was handpicked on October 18th 2018 at 26.5 Brix.
Vinification
Handcrafted by winemaker Joel Aiken, the fruit completed a four day cold soak at 45F, followed by warming of the must to 70F and inoculation. During fermentation the juice was pumped over up to 3 times a day with a peak temperature of 87F. After 27 days of maceration, the must was drained and pressed. After settling, the wine was placed into 60% new, Seguin Moreau, Icone barrels with medium-long toast. After malolactic fermentation in January 2019, the wine was racked once in 2019 and once in 2020. Finally, the wine was master blended in July and bottled on July 20, 2020.
Winemaker Notes
The resulting wine has a deep dark purple color, tremendous depth, and firm yet rich tannins. Classic Rutherford Bench characteristics of cassis and cherry with an intriguing note of mocha are displayed in the aroma and on the palate. The wine is beautiful and approachable now and will age for decades while increasing in complexity throughout the years.
REVIEW
KEVIN M. VOGT – MASTER SOMMELIER
“The Morisoli Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 begins with a pure, elegant nose of red and black fruits, baking spice, violets, and Kalamata olives. The concentrated palate has a linear focus, with primary flavors of blackberries and red currants, along with the signature Rutherford dust, then continuing with dried mushrooms, pen ink, and pipe tobacco. This gorgeous Rutherford Cab is beautifully constructed, with all of the balance, elegance, power, and grace you would expect from Winemaker Joel Aiken. The intense fruit, long finish, and firm structure promise a couple of decades of future enjoyment. This stunner is a superb wine that any collector would be delighted to have in their cellar.”
97 Points
REVIEW
DAVID THOMPSON: NAPA WINE PROJECT
The 2018 Morisoli Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (inaugural vintage) is dark ruby in color; the bouquet is opulent and shows plenty of up front fruit including aromas of blackberry, dark plum and black cherry along with espresso, tobacco spice, cedar and dust. The aromatics are arguably riper than the 2019 vintage while the palate offers more intensity and density of both flavor and structure. The tannins are firm, earthy, dusty and offer a gravelly texture which continues to persist for some time. This wine finishes dark and savory with some notes of crushed pepper, cedar and a tobacco spice along with an accompanying parallel of fruit.
REVIEW
DAVID THOMPSON: NAPA WINE PROJECT
The 2018 Morisoli Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (inaugural vintage) is dark ruby in color; the bouquet is opulent and shows plenty of up front fruit including aromas of blackberry, dark plum and black cherry along with espresso, tobacco spice, cedar and dust. The aromatics are arguably riper than the 2019 vintage while the palate offers more intensity and density of both flavor and structure. The tannins are firm, earthy, dusty and offer a gravelly texture which continues to persist for some time. This wine finishes dark and savory with some notes of crushed pepper, cedar and a tobacco spice along with an accompanying parallel of fruit.
REVIEW
MEGHAN VERGARA, SOMMELIER
A deep garnet hue catches the eye with a brilliance that immediately signaled that the wine would be balanced. Notes of blueberry bramble, baking spice and cocoa powder jump right out the glass. A possible unique characteristic of this site is the incredibly expressive nose. Smooth and velvety mouthfeel with an alluring silky thread of acidity that keeps it from falling into the common trap of over-extracted and unnecessarily dense Napa Cabs. Cassis, dark chocolate, hints of herbal notes that lend interest and subtle tobacco notes that round out complexity on the palate here creating an experience that you’ll want to replicate time and again.
This is a wine that is well made, rich in flavor and quality with a great family story behind it. A wine that brought a big smile and tons of joy to even the most highly trained and at times, an admittedly hard to impress, wine taster. A wine that can do that so easily, is definitely worth checking out.
