Macauley Vineyard, Kalyteros, Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville 2019

The Macauley Vineyard label was originally launched in the early 1980s by Mac Watson's late mother, Ann Macauley Watson, with a highly regarded late-harvest Sauvignon Blanc. Many years later, with a stint at Rudd Winery under his belt, Mac resurrected the brand, and today carries on a special legacy that his mother started nearly 30 years ago. Mac's longtime friend, Kirk Venge serves as the celebrated winemaker for the Macauley Vineyard wines, continuing a very trusted relationship the two have shared since childhood. In addition to partnering with famed grape growers David Abreu and Andy Beckstoffer, these small-production wines have continued to grow to the top of the charts with critics and collectors.   We are pleased to share the inaugural release of the 2019 Kalyteros-a selection of the best barrels from two acclaimed Oakville vineyards in their portfolio.

Behind the winemaking is Kirk Venge, a Napa native whose name has become synonymous with rich, bold, extravagant wines. Growing up in Rutherford in the heart of the Napa Valley, his childhood memories are steeped in grape growing, winemaking and the fragrance of a wine cellar. Some of Kirk's earliest memories are of helping his father, Nils (another Napa Valley winemaking legend), with basket-pressing Cabernet from the family's Saddleback Vineyard and of manning the pump switch during late-night barrel-racking projects. After graduating from Saint Helena High School, Kirk pursued a degree in Viticulture and Enology at the University of California at Davis, one of the most well-regarded institutions for these studies in the world. Since then, he has worked harvests all around the world but has always kept his home here in the Napa Valley, making some of the most well-regarded wines over the last couple of decades, including Macauley, Hunnicutt, B Cellars, Bacio Divino, and his own label, Venge Family Vineyards.

Since its re-incarnation in the early 2000s, Macauley has celebrated Napa’s legacy grape growers and vineyards, particularly, the historic To Kalon Vineyard.  Originally planted in 1868 by pioneer viticulturalist Hamilton W. Crabb, the remarkable To Kalon Vineyard provides grapes for some of Napa Valley's most sought-after wines. The To Kalon name is quite appropriate for these coveted vines as it means "highest quality" or "greatest beauty" in Greek.  The vineyard sits at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains on clay and loam alluvial soils that provide excellent drainage for a deep root structure.  The second vineyard comprising this debut blend is the Oakville 360 Vineyard farmed by the Renteria family, located at the edge of the Rutherford AVA along the base of the Vaca Mountains.  The Renterias have decades-long experience growing in Napa Valley and planted Oakville 360 in 2012 with varying clones of Cabernet Sauvignon.  Kalyteros is a composition that demonstrates the versatility of the Oakville AVA with fruit derived from alluvial soils at the base of both mountain ranges.

Mac and Kirk selected 10 barrels for the final wine and aged them for 27 months.  The wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and in Kirk’s words is “a 1,000 HP Formula One engine running at full throttle.”  In keeping with the Greek nomenclature, the Macauley team named this wine Kalyteros which roughly translates to “best.”  And is there a simpler way to put it?  This wine is powerful, intense, and an all-senses enveloping experience.  From the start, it impresses with aromas of dark cocoa powder, black licorice, and cherry liqueur, growing in intensity with a rich, bold, and enticing palate.  All of these aromas and flavors linger on a seemingly endless finish, making it hard to determine when you’ve finished the last sip other than to lift your glass and find you’ve devoured every drop.