Caterwaul Regusci Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District 2018

Caterwaul Wines bring together the best of both worlds regarding wine. The vineyard expertise of a Napa native with generations-long knowledge and the winemaking know-how of one of Napa’s most iconic and highly acclaimed winemakers. Originally a side project between two regular colleagues, Caterwaul is the brainchild of Matt Hardin and Thomas Rivers Brown. The two struck up a friendship working together on prestigious labels over the years. In 2014, Matt was overseeing farming in some of Napa’s best-known vineyards with Barbour Vineyard Management while Thomas made wine and consulted for multiple projects; for example, Schrader, Outpost, Pulido-Walker, and Shibumi Knoll. Crossing paths so often, Thomas and Matt admired each other’s approach to vines and wine, and their desire to make wine together blossomed into Caterwaul. As Matt & Thomas say of their brand: “The farmer works to produce the best crop possible, knowing once it leaves their hands, they no longer have control. The winemaker, regardless of skill and ability, can only work with what comes through the winery doors.” They appreciate that each represents a side of the same coin; great wines are born of beautiful, carefully handled fruit and thoughtful, passionate winemaking. You can’t have one without the other.

Being long-time locals, Matt & Thomas had the hook up on a great vineyard site for their Cabernet Sauvignon:  Regusci Vineyard. Alicia Regusci (Matt’s wife) loved the idea of the two making wine together and offered fruit from her family’s renowned estate vineyard. Regusci Vineyard sits at the base of the Vaca Mountains in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley. In particular, the Cabernet for Caterwaul comes from Block 3, with a little more than five acres of vines planted in 1999. Thomas and Matt selected this plot specifically for its unusual blend of soils. Here, volcanic soils from the Vaca mountains mix with the alluvial deposits from the Napa River. This unique combination produces aromatic wines that maintain structure and depth.

2018 was a fantastic growing vintage for Napa Valley with plenty of rainfall in the winter and consistent, warm temperatures through to harvest that allowed vines to ripen evenly and fully without scorching. The 2018 Caterwaul Regusci Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon showcases all the vintage’s high points. The wine has density, richness, acidity, and structure, all in equilibrium. Dark fruits like blackberries and plums intermingle with cocoa powder and spice cake—luscious tannins and sturdy acidity with licorice, black raspberry, and lavender on the palate. While Caterwaul may represent two sides of the same coin, this Cabernet is no coin toss. No matter heads or tails, it is knock-out wine that is sure to please.