L'Envolee Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019

L'Envolée is the brainchild of two young and hungry winemakers, burgeoning onto the scene and at the start of their careers in Napa Valley. Despite working full-time jobs with some of Napa's top brass, Caitlin and Quentin Lhommeau squeeze every hour out of the day to pour their passion and creativity into their label, L'Envolée. They do every job possible when making their wine, from hand-harvesting the grapes to punch-downs to filing permits and packing the final shipments in the warehouse. And when all is said and done, L'Envolée provides a platform for complete creative expression when crafting superior Napa Valley wine for these two ardent creators. Having poured not only sweat, blood, and tears, metaphorically of course, but also financial savings into their wine, Caitlin and Quentin demonstrated great promise for Napa's next generation with an Oakville Cabernet that rivals those of their mentors' making.

The two were a match made in New Zealand, having met in 2017 while working harvest on the South Island. Despite having committed to jobs worlds apart for 2018's vintage, the two stayed connected and, after just a year, settled in Napa Valley together. How Quentin and Caitlin make it happen, and so humbly, is quite an astounding feat.  Between managing their family brand and working full-time with Julian Fayard Consulting and Tench Vineyards and Atelier Melka (respectively), they are a very busy pair! Growing up among the vineyards in Loire Valley had a big impact on Quentin and he eventually earned a degree in Winemaking and Viticulture from Tours.  His résumé spans multiple regions across France, from Châteauneuf-du-Pape to Alsace to Cognac to Bordeaux. And after studying Cell Biology and Anthropology at UC Davis, Caitlin made the fateful leap to change careers from medicine to winemaking in 2016. Each brings a distinct perspective on making Cabernet, along with clear influences from their teachers, Russell Bevan, Philippe Melka, and Julian Fayard. The aptly named label of L'Envolée, "to take flight" in French, mirrors the rise Caitlin and Quentin are on in the Napa winemaking scene.

Harvest kicked off in early October, with the grapes picked and carefully sorted by hand in preparation for fermentation. A small 5% Merlot supplements the 95% Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville. Throughout fermentation, Caitlin and Quentin used punch-down and Pulsair techniques for tannin extraction. Pulsair pushes compressed air into the fermentation tank, allowing a gentle wave to pulse through the wine, delicately mix the skins and juice, and break open the drying cap.  The two French oak barrels rested in the cellar for 18 months before finally racking into a blending tank and bottling. 

Ripe Oakville fruit is front and center from this wine's start, with the ruby-red hues melding into its deep purple core. Aromas of mulberries, black currants, and juicy blackberries fill the first breath and subtly fuse with the palate's vanilla and warm spice flavors. Mouth-filling tannins hold structure for the bright acidity that maintains through the finish. L'Envolée’s 2019 Cabernet expresses excellent depth and intensity, met with exceptional polish and refinement. Caitlin and Quentin are up-and-comers whose coattails we would all benefit from latching onto tightly as they soar to legendary heights.