Zeitgeist Oakville Station Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 2017

Zeitgeist Cellars is the brilliant collaboration between husband-and-wife winemaking team, Mark Porembski (Anomaly & Unwritten, formerly of Far Niente and Araujo Estate) and Jennifer Williams (Arrow & Branch, formerly of Spottswoode).  First founded in 2005 by Mark, who was joined shortly after by Jennifer, Zeitgeist Cellars makes roughly 1,000 cases of wine per year, all offered at great price points while not missing a beat on quality.  To make this work, the dynamic duo does nearly all their work — from working hands-on in the vineyards with the farmers to processing the fruit by hand, overseeing the entire fermentation process, then blending and bottling with very little help from others — their story is an inspiration, and their wines confirm the talent of their craft.  And if making their wines and consulting for several small premium Napa Valley-based wineries isn’t enough, they are raising three daughters at home.  With three kids and full-time responsibilities at their day jobs, how this rock-star winemaking couple finds the time to craft these gorgeous Zeitgeist wines is beyond us!  So, with sincere pleasure, we share this debut, never-before-released 2017 Zeitgeist Oakville Station Cabernet Sauvignon.

The name “Zeitgeist” is a German word that refers to the spirit of the times or the cultural and intellectual climate of a particular era.  For Mark and Jennifer, this term captures the essence of their approach to winemaking, which is grounded in a deep respect for tradition but also embraces experimentation and innovation.  And in that same spirit, the Oakville Station vineyard could not be better suited as a fruit source for this outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon.  The prime Oakville “real estate” that is To Kalon Vineyard surrounds the 40 acres of vines.  Oakville Station is a research vineyard owned by UC Davis Enology and Viticulture students and used as a testing ground for new techniques and inventions.  The research conducted there explores projects like clone trials, rootstock trials, vine spacing, pruning levels, and irrigation, making it an ideal place for Mark and Jennifer to experiment with their winemaking techniques.

The resulting wine is a full-bodied 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, characterized by power and intensity in the glass.  The aromas and flavors are reminiscent of cooked fruits, cherry jam, cedar planks, tanned leather, overripe blackberries, and chocolate liqueur.  The acidity balances the bold structure through the long, concentrated finish.  Aerating the wine with a 30 to 45-minute decant levels up every aspect and increases the pleasure of imbibing two-fold.  The most authentic way to delight in this Zeitgeist Cabernet is to embrace its namesake by sipping a glass with friends during an animated discussion.  Whether the topic is the day’s news or your thoughts on the latest episode of Succession, the merits of the wine will be the only item not up for debate!