Amici Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019

Nestled in the foothills of the Palisades mountain range in the far north-eastern corner of the Napa Valley just outside Calistoga sits a true treasure of a property. And our newest favorite place to visit. We were first introduced to the property a few months ago when the Amici Team graciously asked if we would like to visit the winery for the afternoon so we could get to know the Amici wines better. The only thing we knew up to that point that was one of our dear friends and neighbor, Tony Biagi (Hourglass, Patria), was their winemaker. That alone was enough to tell us that the wines and project must be pretty special. However, what we thought was going to be another typical winery visit turned out to be one of the most memorable winery experiences we have had. Not only were we greeted by Tony and one of the owners, John Harris, but also greeted by the entire team. After casually tasting in the cellar the whole line-up of wines and getting the obligatory business of learning everything about Amici and the wines out of the way, we then walked down to a charming house with one of the most epic views of the Palisades to have lunch with our new friends. We later learned that Amici, which means 'friends' in Italian, is what this project is all about; a genuine ethos that owners John Harris and Bob and Celia Shepard stay true to. As John says, "Amici is created by friends for friends." For the rest of the afternoon we dined and imbibed and shared and laughed. 

Just two nights ago, we were once again invited up to the property for 'Gumbo Night', where no business commenced, just friends and family gathered to enjoy this beautiful life. Amici really does have it all; gorgeous wines that are sourced from the most coveted vineyards in the valley made by one of the most talented winemakers today, a gem of a winery tucked in a breathtaking part of the valley that houses and hosts people with warmth and enthusiasm, and people behind the project that are 100% genuine in their pursuit of living and sharing a life well lived; a trifecta of success. 

2019 was truly a winemakers’ vintage, and the quality of the resulting wines presents itself in bottle. Generous rainfall in February led to a late budbreak and extended flowering period. Beautiful and mild weather throughout spring and summer made for a healthy crop load. With no major heat spikes or weather events in the fall, winemakers were able to patiently wait to pick at optimal fruit ripeness. A masterful blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. The 2019 Amici Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is a dense, rich, and beautifully textured wine. Powerful aromas of cocoa, raspberry and blackberry pie are accented by hints of sage and crème de cassis. On the palate, flavors of black cherry, blackberry and dark chocolate carry the full-bodied palate through a long, mouthwatering finish laced with cedar box and black peppercorns.