Annulus Las Piedras Cabernet Sauvignon St Helena 2021

We live the good life here in Napa Valley and are exceptionally grateful for the bounty we receive daily. Our tightly-knit community is built on hospitality, and there is no greater pleasure than sharing our wines with neighbors and friends. We love joining together at the table to open exceptional bottles from both near and far and enjoy a meal made from the beautiful produce and goods grown and made here, along with stimulating conversation. Deann Wright and Luke Evnin fell head over heels for Napa Valley's easy living in the two decades they've lived in Rutherford, despite not working in the wine industry. Their research science careers kept them busy as they worked to fund and promote programs to eradicate cancer and autoimmune diseases. Yet, the inkling to create a wine brand of their own always remained in the distance, a far-off dream that finally came to fruition in 2019 with the launch of Annulus Cellars. Luke and Deann selected the name Annulus, which means "ring" in Latin, to honor the natural cycle of life in the vineyard, from bud break and veraison to harvest and dormancy. In addition to this cycle, the circle motif signifies the many tables where the vintners came together with neighbors, mentors, and friends to share and celebrate Napa.

Throughout the years, Luke and Deann forged friendships around those plentiful tables with some of Napa's renowned vintners, growers, and winemakers. They had a front-row seat to the musings of our industry's best minds and, through osmosis, garnered the world-class knowledge not afforded to most vintners starting on a winemaking journey. Additionally, they developed their palates and established preferences for specific vineyards in the valley. Top of the list of ideal fruit for their family project was the famed Las Piedras, owned and farmed by Andy Beckstoffer. The vineyard crew named the site Las Piedras (Spanish for the stones) in honor of the gravelly nature of the well-draining soil. The original plantings date back to the 1840s, making it one of the oldest vineyards in St. Helena. Andy re-planted the vineyards with Cabernet Sauvignon in 1983 when he purchased the property. Luke & Deann recruited the famed duo of Nigel Kinsman and Michel Rolland to lead the winemaking team. The combined talents of their partnership have graced stellar brands such as Bella Oaks, Impensata, and Accendo. Luke and Deann sought their deft hands to bring the Annulus vision to life by crafting exceptional wines with a strict sense of place and time.

The 2021 vintage, with its lower yields, led to concentrated flavors that accentuated Las Piedras' trademark minerality. Nigel's approach to winemaking was restrained, allowing the intensely flavored fruit to express the terroir and vintage. Michel's final blend is a nuanced, seamlessly balanced classic Cabernet Sauvignon with deeper tones of black fruits and dark chocolate, complemented by hints of toasted baking spice from the French oak aging.