Copper Bear Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford 2022

Crafting fine wines takes a great deal of thoughtful care, precious time, and passionate energy. For many of the winemakers we highlight at ACME, their labels are a "side hustle" and ones where they can let their creativity shine. Some do so by working with different varietals than those used in their day job, and some do so by exploring various techniques and approaches to the vineyard sites they work with daily. Copper Bear proprietor Jesse Giacomelli has a front row, center seat to a handful of Napa Valley's "grand cru" vineyards as the winemaker for Beckstoffer Vineyards. Since day one of working for Andy Beckstoffer, Jesse has come to know Andy's vineyards like the back of his hand. After crafting solely wines for Beckstoffer Vineyards for a few years, he launched a personal brand. Introducing Copper Bear…

Jesse's winemaking experience spans decades and regions, having worked in Argentina, Alexander Valley, and Napa. He credits mentorship from Aaron Pott and Benoit Touquette with honing his winemaking style and his understanding of Napa Valley. In his time at Beckstoffer Vineyards, he has fully immersed himself in the specific terroirs of each vineyard and learned the intricacies of each site and its soil types. For Copper Bear, Jesse utilizes fruit from Andy's historic sites, like Georges III and Missouri Hopper, to craft small-lot, refined wines that highlight the vineyard's character. And when we say small lot, we mean it as Jesse produces only 500 cases across his entire brand of five wines.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Clone 7 and Clone 337 that aged over 22 months in French oak barrels, 67% of which were new. Jesse describes the wine by saying, "The 2022 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon showcases aromas of graphite, plum, and cherry, with a subtle touch of dusty earth, a hallmark of Rutherford terroir. On the palate, the wine delivers a blend of ripe dark fruits, framed by soft and silky tannins. The finish is log and smooth, leaving a lasting impression of dark fruit and French oak spice."