Sire Sleeping Lady Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2021

In 2022, ACME was elated to discover the hidden gem Sire Estate, which has been quietly making 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from some of Napa's premier vineyard sites since 2012. This tiny brand has flown mostly under the radar since its inaugural release. It is a sleeping giant with heavy hitter Julien Fayard behind the wheel, producing less than 200 cases of pure, unadulterated Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with each vintage.

Growing up in Northern California and attending the De La Salle High School run by the Christian Brothers (yes, those Christian Brothers), Tom Buck gained an appreciation for Napa Valley, winemaking, and the history of the industry in our small valley. Between yearly summer retreats hosted by the Christian Brothers on Mt Veeder to his part-time work as a tour guide and driver in wine country, Tom cemented his passion for educating others on wine and sharing Napa's rich winemaking past. Then, while studying to earn his post-graduate teaching certification, Tom worked his first grape harvest and was smitten. The magic of harvest stuck with Tom, and he soon realized he didn't want to teach just anything; his field of study would be wine. This calling led him to an eventual purchase of Beau Wine Tours, where he remains President and CEO today, and he continues to share the world of wine with wine-country visitors year-round.

As Tom laid the groundwork for starting a personal label, he vetted multiple candidates and determined Julien Fayard best adhered to the philosophies he desired in his winemaking partner. These shared values honed in on perfecting Cabernet Sauvignon from excellent vineyard sources, making wine only when grapes from the "finest pedigree" vines were available. Julien can undoubtedly be considered a Cabernet winemaking "thoroughbred" with harvests and experience in Bordeaux at Château Lafite-Rothschild and Napa Valley as Philippe Melka's right-hand man. Now the Winemaker & Proprietor of Fayard Winemaking, he consults for brands such as Covert, Somnium, and Purlieu while crafting his label, Julien Fayard Wines. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from single-vineyard sources is right up his alley as he feels, in his own words, "As a winemaker, my job is to bring out the best qualities that the vines have provided. I don't seek to make a style of wine but more so to make wine that sings of its place, its history, and its uniqueness."

Sleeping Lady Vineyard represents a surprising dichotomy of Napa Valley grape growing and winemaking tradition versus industry growth and modernization. Originally planted to vines in the late 19th century by San Franciscans seeking a more pastoral lifestyle, its unique name comes from the Mayacamas outline in the backdrop, mimicking a woman laying down to rest. Four-generation Napa Valley grape growers, the Bettinelli Family have farmed the 46-acre property for decades. The family's patriarch, Larry Bettinelli, has hall-of-fame status and is considered a pioneer of Napa vineyard management, having planted his first vineyard in the region in 1963. In the present day, Larry's son Giancarlo and son-in-law Paul handle all operations for the business and have embraced new technologies for their estates and clients' vineyards. Combining Larry's expertise in best practices with Giancarlo & Pauls' advanced systems and techniques, the Bettinellis steward some of Napa's most outstanding vineyards. In 2013, the Bettinelli's purchased Sleeping Lady, and using their years of knowledge farming the vines, they've improved the quality of the grapes, now reputed for making elegantly floral and finessed wines.

Tom and Julien crafted merely 100 cases of the Sire Sleeping Lady Cabernet, which is 100% Clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon. After a mid-October harvest and fermentation, the wine aged 22 months in new French oak. In Julien's words, "Classic to the Sleeping Lady Vineyard, the 2021 vintage delivers power and elegance in a silky texture. The structure is supported by a nice backbone of melted acidity. Delicate red fruits, black currant and spices on the finish from the 100% new French oak aging… adding a tad of structure while leaving plenty of expression to the fruit. The mid-mouth is layered in purple and dark blackberry. Definitely a wine that will rival the best vintages in age-ability. Necessary decanting time now, but this bottle expresses the vintage already in detail."