Vida Valiente Estate Cabernet Sauvignon St Helena 2021

What could make a bottle of estate-grown, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley crafted by all-star winemaker Sam Kaplan taste any better than it already is?  The fact that proceeds from said bottle support a non-profit organization dedicated to funding and mentoring the college careers of first-generation Americans.  Hayes & Susana Drumwright and Sam & Nancy Kaplan established the Vida Valiente Foundation and Winery in 2021 with two missions in mind (and heart.)  First, to make exceptional Napa Valley Cabernets showcasing the region’s premier vineyards, and second, to raise funds for low-income Stanford students to complete their education in four years.  After tasting their 2021 inaugural release from the Vida Valiente Estate and knowing that the Foundation raised close to one million dollars in its first year alone, ACME can certify that they’ve completed these “missions” with flying colors and are just getting started.

While the winery aspect of Vida Valiente was the brainchild of Hayes and Sam, who you may know well from their collaboration at Memento Mori Winery, Susana Drumwright was and is the driving force behind the Foundation.  As a first-generation American, she can attest to the seemingly unending hurdles these students face in their pursuit of higher education.  Without anyone setting an example or laying the path, first-generation college students are forced to forge their way, proving they are tenacious and hard-working.  Yet, they face undue financial stress and are more likely to take longer to earn their degrees or even not complete secondary education at all.  These obstacles are why the Vida Valiente Foundation provides financial support for tuition and mentorship with leading executives in varying industries.  The project stands out from traditional wine philanthropy as the scholars are not required to pursue a career in wine upon accepting the scholarship.  It is a testament to the Drumwrights and Kaplans that they’ve used their expertise in the wine world to encourage young leaders to thrive, regardless of their passion or path.

In 2018, the families planted the Estate vineyard at the base of Glass Mountain in St. Helena. Four clones of Cabernet Sauvignon make up the rows that sit atop sandy, rocky soil with large deposits of black obsidian rock.  Sam nurtured the vines for three years with the trusted advisory of famed vineyard manager Jim Barbour before the first-ever Estate harvest in 2021.  The wine rested in 100% new French oak barrels from five cooperages for two years after harvest.  Vida Valiente produced 294 cases of their inaugural Estate bottling and described it as a “dynamic and heady expression of Cabernet Sauvignon that brings the entire picture together in perfect harmony.”  Brooding dark fruit aromas of black raspberry and plum command the nose with traces of eucalyptus, spice, and earth.  It is round and full-bodied with thick tannins and a surprising acidity to balance the weight on the palate.  From start to finish, a dichotomy of ripe fruit and minerality plays in the flavors.  Enjoying a 2021 Vida Valiente Estate bottle pleases your senses and feels oh-so-good for the soul.