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Pas de Cheval Intermezzo Cabernet Sauvignon Saint Helena 2019  - ACME Fine Wines
New $250 750mL
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  •  
  • CountryUnited States
  • RegionNapa Valley
  • Alcohol15.2%
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Pas de Cheval Intermezzo Cabernet Sauvignon Saint Helena 2019

  • Vintage2019
  • VarietyCabernet Sauvignon
  • AppellationSaint Helena
  • WinemakerMaayan Koschitsky

For the next piece in Pas de Cheval's debut trilogy, we give you the 2019 "Intermezzo" Cabernet Sauvignon from the Saint Helena AVA.  In the opera world, an intermezzo is a musical interlude that joins two separate acts, leading the listener from one storyline into the next.  This second wine from Vanessa and Maayan is all about connecting the points of poise and power that define the Pas de Cheval approach to Cabernet winemaking.  

These days, winemaker Maayan Koschitzky needs little to no introduction, having amassed a laundry list of clients working for over a decade in Napa.  Originally from Israel, Maayan entered the workforce as an engineer but quickly found he craved the outdoors and saw winemaking as the best way to integrate his technical skills with a career rooted in nature.  So in 2011, Maayan applied for a handful of internships available in the Napa Valley with his hopes set high.  And boy, did he reach those heights with the first call back for an interview being none other than Screaming Eagle!  Maayan relocated his family to Napa with his offer in hand, planted roots, and never looked back. 

After successful harvests at Screaming Eagle and Dalla Valle, Philippe Melka hired Maayan as an Assistant Winemaker in his consulting business in 2014.  It was not long before Maayan ran the show as Director of Winemaking for the entire Atelier Melka.  Leading the Melka team means he has a hand in making many of Napa's acclaimed wines, including Dana Estates, Alejandro Bulgheroni, Nine Suns, Adamvs, and Tusk.  In his consulting role with Dana, Maayan met Vanessa Conlin, and the two struck up an instant friendship.  Vanessa shared her vision with Maayan of a wine label to showcase Cabernet's many facets and convinced him to partner with her despite his loaded client list.  2019 marked the first vintage for Pas de Cheval and the year Maayan was named a Wine Enthusiast's 40 under 40 Tastemaker. Besides his day job, Maayan makes wine separately for Brilliant Mistake, Simon Family Estate, Royal Prince and makes his delicious personal label, La Pelle Wines (an ACME favorite!)

The 2019 Intermezzo is a prime example of Cabernet Sauvignon's playful duality of vibrant, blossoming aromatics and deep-rooted, intense full body.  Another 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Clone 4 vines grown on the westside of Saint Helena.  The alluvial soils fanning out from the base of the Mayacamas provide rich nutrients and positive stressors on the vines, forcing them to grow deep down for water sources.  The resulting grapes are concentrated in color and flavor, with hard-to-match depth and complexity.  The aging for the Pas de Cheval Intermezzo changed slightly from the Prelude, with the wine spending 20 months in 75% new French oak versus the 70% for the Oakville fruit. The wine's deep purple-black hues are complemented by overwhelming aromas of blackberry pie, crème de cassis, cedar, cocoa powder, and fresh spearmint.  In Vanessa's words, the palate is "rippling with flavors of Black Forest cherries, blackberry, toast, vanilla, and subtle hints of tobacco." While it seems it couldn't get much better than the Intermezzo, we think you should stick around for the final act in Pas de Cheval's debut release. Enjoy a glass of this riveting Cabernet from Saint Helena while you wait!

  •  
  • CountryUnited States
  • RegionNapa Valley
  • Alcohol15.2%
  •