Vintage 2016 gave us yet another beautiful vintage in the Napa Valley. This following the fabulous vintages of 2012-2015. Marked by a few late-season heat spells, the wines are as opulent as the 2012s, with the concentration of the 2014s. Wine lots and barrels selected for our ‘El Coyote’ 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 the dark, meaty, rich, black fruit aspects of the variety. To further highlight these characters, we often co-ferment with varieties that share these same qualities. You’ll notice that there is a small percentage of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Alicante Bouschet in our 2016. This is the result of one piece of the final blend that captured the best synergy of the the varieties. The 2016 ‘El Coyote’ Cabernet is about all things dark and powerful in a red wine. Dark blue-black fruit aromas tangle with those of darkly charred wood and blackened meat. It’s very primal smelling. In the mouth, it lunges straight to the mid-palate then lurks under the tongue and coats the sides. If you like your Cabernet big, flavorful, and chewy, this is the one for you from the 2016 vintage.