
2013 Kuleto Estate Lone Acre Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Winemaker Notes
Wine lots and barrels selected for our ‘Lone Acre’ Cabernet Sauvignon don’t necessarily come from a particular
spot on the estate ( à la Vineyard Designate), but rather share common flavor and structural attributes that
highlight what I think are the strongest varietal character of Cabernet. The idea is to create a wine that is at
once Old and New World in impression, i.e. the fruit is deemphasized in the aroma, but the mouth is rich and
flavorful without being heavy. Seamless complexity is what our Lone Acre is all about. The 2013 Lone Acre
showcases a side of Cabernet that is not typically found in the Napa Valley i.e. a stone fruit character as opposed
to a bramble fruit character. Aromas of plum and red apple are balanced by a slight smokiness. The mouth
showcases dark fruit flavors that are accented by soft tannins that coat the mouth. A graceful acidity on the
finish adds a liveliness to the palate and promise of a long cellar life.
Composition
83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 5% Syrah, 2% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Wine Specs
Vintage
2013
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Napa Valley
Acid
6.2 g/L
pH
3.66
Aging
Oak Aging 30 months in 40% new French oak
Alcohol %
14.90
Production Notes
Like vintage 2012, vintage 2013 was ‘perfect’ by nearly all grape-growing standards in that yields were slightly
above average, the weather was evenly warm, and fruit moved toward ideal ripeness without the fits and starts
of the preceding two vintages. This produced wines with tremendous fruit flavors and textural depth. If you’re
wondering if we in the Napa Valley ever tire of ‘perfect’ vintages, the answer is “not at all.”
Vineyard Notes
For winemaker John Clews, there is a mutual understanding that all but a small percentage of the winemaker’s work
is done in the vineyard. Keeping the vineyard’s serpentine twists and exposures in mind, the best-suited varietals for
each block have been selected. Working with the land, not against it, the individually terraced lots are not oriented
to one central direction, but instead are planted to maximize the benefits of their natural location.
Production
Only 119 cases produced