Denali Estate Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena 2021

Alaskans are known for their pioneering spirit, stalwart character, and appreciation for the hard work necessary to kickstart new endeavors.  Walt and Katherine Schlotfeldt, vintners of Denali Estate, share this industrious nature and love for their home state of Alaska.  As lifelong business owners, when it came time to sell their family company and embrace retirement, the two found themselves antsy with all their free time, craving the relationships and creativity integral to managing their business.  In their words, they realized they had "happily flunked retirement" and began meditating on their next adventure.  During their nightly ponderings, the couple shared beautiful bottles of wine acquired from years as collectors and frequent visits to wine country, and those bottles were the key to unlocking a dream of stewarding a Napa Valley vineyard.

Walt and Katherine's journey was not without its challenges.  Initially, they traveled to Sonoma County to search for a vineyard property and were on the verge of finalizing a deal near Healdsburg.  However, their intuition told them to pause.  After consulting with a vintner familiar with the area, they learned the land would not support a vineyard due to multiple issues.  Undeterred, their Alaskan friends with a home in Napa encouraged them to expand their search to Napa Valley. After 40 viewings with their realtor, the Schlotfeldts discovered a 42-acre property in St. Helena bordering the Joseph Phelps vineyard.  Despite the need for substantial re-development, the land met all their criteria, with stunning views of the valley below, perfect for watching the sunset.  

It was off to the races once they had keys in hand, with a commitment to vineyard rehabilitation, including re-planting nine acres, planting two acres of new vines, and setting up functioning infrastructure for their farming equipment to maneuver.  They spent their first decade in Napa Valley as grape growers and garnered a reputation for high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon, a sure result of their thoughtful care for the vines.  Walt and Katherine sought out Napa legend Jim Barbour to manage their vineyard and insisted on sustainable, restorative practices to rejuvenate their soil and establish a well-balanced mini ecosystem.  Each vintage, they kept one ton of fruit to make a family wine for personal consumption on holidays until 2016, when Walt and Katherine embarked on the next frontier of wine:  crafting and selling their own exceptional estate Cabernet Sauvignon.

Walt and Katherine tapped Jean Hoefliger (previously of Alpha Omega and AXR Winery) to create the Denali Estate wines.  They were drawn to his meticulous, research-driven approach that tests the boundaries in seeking near, yet never, perfection.  This pursuit reminded them of that persistent Alaskan spirit and felt like destiny.  The 2021 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 100% new French oak barrels.  Even with such a bold barrel program, the balanced wine has clean, red fruit aromas highlighted by delicate toasted notes—a long finish rounds out the medium-bodied palate and silky tannins.  Only 212 cases were produced!