L'Envolée Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 2021

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 Julien Fayard Consulting and Tench Vineyards and Atelier Melka (respectively), they are a very busy pair! Growing up among the vineyards in Loire Valley greatly impacted 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 and clear influences from their teachers, Russell Bevan, Philippe Melka, and Julien Fayard. The aptly named label of L'Envolée, "to take flight" in French, mirrors Caitlin and Quentin's rise in the Napa winemaking scene.

The 2021 L’Envolée Wines Cabernet Sauvignon is a vibrant and elegant wine made up of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot. It is concentrated dark ruby red in color, reflecting the character of small, ripe berries. Swirl your glass and notice that the eloquent nose showcases aromas of cassis and blackberries, white jasmine and a whiff of warm, toasty vanilla toffee(a nod to mature French Oak barrels). This full-bodied wine will glide along your palate, highlighting flavors of fresh huckleberries, toasted espresso beans, cedarwood, and a hint of tobacco while anchored by the structure of young tannins and balanced acidity. Pull the cork now and allow to decant before enjoying, or safeguard in the cellar to indulge in later–this wine will only get better with age. 60 cases made.