Flint Knoll Commonwealth Las Posadas Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 2019

The great wines we continue to remember often take us back to a place and time, evoking memories of being together with family and friends, celebrations of love, and honoring life's transformations. For Vintner, Aaron Michaelis, the memories he cherishes most are those of the tall prairie grasses of the meandering Flint Hills of eastern Kansas, where he grew up. Aaron's childhood instilled in him a vibrant appreciation for the land and awe of the invaluable practice of giving back to it. In 2013, he set sail from the sea of grass and let his love for fine wine captain his prairie schooner on a voyage west. Aaron's move to California was a leap of faith, fueled by a fascination with wine, that eventually brought him to Napa Valley and cemented his future in the industry. Working in sales, marketing, and product development with boutique wineries and vineyards across the valley, Aaron became more passionate and involved with each new project. It soon grew too challenging to ignore his true calling. In 2016, Aaron's dream of creating a small portfolio of artisanal wines became a reality…enter Flint Knoll.

Partnering with Aaron in his winemaking venture are two industry veterans, winemaker Philippe Melka and his right-hand man, Maayan Koschitzky. Their impressive backgrounds, including stints at renowned wineries such as Château Haut Brion, Dominus Estate, Petrus, Screaming Eagle, and Dalla Valle, speak volumes about their expertise. Together with Aaron, they craft limited production, single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa's elite vineyards.

As we debut Flint Knoll's Commonwealth wine, we must also deliver the sad news that this is a "one-off" bottling. 2019 is the first and the last vintage as the vineyard owner, David Abreu has since partnered with another producer for exclusive use of the vines. Las Posadas' reputation precedes it with a certain prowess as the gold standard for Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. After purchasing the plot from Pacific Union College in 2000, Abreu extracted the rocks and boulders from the red volcanic soils and planted Cabernet Sauvignon. Those stones would eventually form the wall surrounding the vineyard, tucked in amongst the pine forest at a little over 1700 feet in elevation. The astounding height is above the fog line, with exceptional sunshine for extended ripening despite the cold nighttime temperatures.

The 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is a balance of power and opulence that swirls across the palate with finesse. Dark chocolate and blackberry expressions fill the nose, leading into highlights of crème de cassis, clove, and lavender over a mineral backbone and robust tannins. The Commonwealth namesake is an homage to the uniqueness of this wine as something wholly independent and for equal enjoyment of all. That being said, its rareness will naturally make it an exclusive entity and for that reason, we are pleased to be your stewards in securing a bottle (and more of our allocation if you so desire) to cherish in your cellar.