2022 CASK 23 Cabernet Sauvignon 1.5L

ABOUT CASK 23

The story of CASK 23 began during the 1974 harvest when the winery enlisted the help of renowned winemaker André Tchelistcheff. As he sampled various lots of new wines from that year, he discovered one particularly beautiful and distinct lot from the S.L.V. vineyard. Impressed by its quality, the winery decided to bottle it separately. Today, CASK 23 is created by blending exceptional fruit from both the S.L.V. and FAY vineyards, resulting in a wine of extraordinary depth and richness, balanced by a sense of restraint.

VINEYARDS & WINEMAKING

CASK 23 is a story of two legendary vineyards—S.L.V. and FAY—that come together to create a complex yet harmonious blend. S.L.V., the winery’s first vineyard, made waves in the wine world when it won the "Judgment of Paris" in 1976. Meanwhile, FAY is notable for being the site where Cabernet Sauvignon was first planted in the Stags Leap District in 1961. These vineyards continue to produce exceptional fruit, which winemaker Marcus Notaro skillfully combines into a wine that keeps you returning to the glass sip after sip.

VINTAGE

The 2022 vintage was the third year in a row of drought. Following the 2021 harvest, we received a record rainfall of 11.20 inches at the end of October, resulting in saturated soil. Unfortunately, the rest of the winter was remarkably dry. We began the 2022 season with early mowing and tillage to conserve as much soil moisture as possible. There was an unusual hail/rainstorm at bloom that reduced yields in some vineyards. This was followed by a late frost in mid-April, but thankfully we did not get extreme freezing temperatures. Spring weather was very unpredictable, with a mix of cool, warm, and hot days. To add to the excitement, Mother Nature gave us some late June rain that increased the mildew pressure across the valley. It wasn’t until mid-July when we reached our typical summer temperatures. The rest of the summer saw average temperatures and good growing conditions. Then, just at the start of harvest, we experienced a nine-day heat wave with record temperatures. Despite the drought and extreme heat at harvest, with careful attention to the timing of our work in the vineyards, we brought in exceptional fruit. Overall, the wines from this vintage have riper flavors and softer acid structures.