The Crane Assembly G.B. Crane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Saint Helena 2016

Just about a mile down from ACME HQ there is a heritage, head-trained, eight-acre vineyard originally planted by legendary Napa pioneer George Belden Crane. Of these eight acres, four remain the original, head trained vines first planted in 1885! These deeply rooted historic vines are embedded in ground that was formed over millennia as soil and gravel washed down from the Mayacamas Mountains via Sulphur Creek to the western flank of St. Helena. G.B. Crane, realizing the similarity of gravelly soil conditions to other great wine regions, was the first in the valley to plant European varietals, including Zinfandel and later Petite Sirah, in his pioneering efforts to produce fine wines. Today, Dave Phinney and a band of his closest friends, (winemaker Kevin Fox, and colleagues Bryan Sandoli and Darryl Browman), teamed up with a common goal to preserve this piece of viticultural history and honor the great G.B Crane.

84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Petit Sirah, all sourced from the historic G.B. Crane Vineyard. Delivering layers of aromatics, the wine opens with subtle cassis notes followed by fresh violets, leather, baking spice, and crushed rocks. Structured and endearing, flavors of ripe blueberry pie, licorice, tobacco, cassis, and a touch of fennel emerge one by one. The lingering finish is framed with finely polished tannins reminiscent of bittersweet baking chocolate and surmounted with mouthwatering acidity, a telltale sign of the age-ability of this genius Cabernet. While a 30-minute decant has this wine absolutely singing, the real reward awaits any patient collector. Try our 1-5-10 plan, drink one now, one in five years, and keep the last until 2031. I triple dog dare you! With just 281 cases produced, this limited-production gem will not last!