Panek Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena 2019

Panek Vineyard is a 22-acre parcel planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. It rests on the valley floor, atop alluvial soils deposited from the streams that ran off the Mayacamas Mountains many years ago. The property is smack dab in the middle of St. Helena, benefiting from long, slow ripening periods in the shadow of the Mayacamas and well-draining gravelly loam soils. When Cindy & Jim Panek purchased the property in 2000, it was a dream come true and the start of a new, grand adventure. Their journey began with research of their land to determine which varietals and clones would be best suited geologically to the site. They selected six Cabernet clones and one Sauvignon Blanc clone, which the team planted in 2002 and 2003. After re-planting, it was off to the races, and the couple slowly but surely made connections in the valley. They became a go-to source for small producers seeking exceptional, precisely grown fruit. As often occurs with family-owned vineyards, the next generation grew of age and led the charge to enter the next phase: transitioning from grape growers to wine producers. Nathan Panek joined the team in 2017 to direct this endeavor and has worked tirelessly to launch the Panek Vineyards label, with its debut vintage in 2018.

Thomas Rivers Brown is like the Tom Brady of winemakers, no matter what side of the football you're on; you must respect him for his string of accomplishments, with more than 30 100-point wines to his resume. He is a GOAT contender for sure and known most famously as the winemaker for some of Napa and Sonoma's most iconic labels (Schrader Cellars, Outpost, Maybach, Pulido-Walker, and his own Rivers-Marie.) Before his name became almost synonymous with Napa Valley, he was a UVA graduate in economics and literature, traveling across the country with no wine education but an immense amount of curiosity. When he landed in Calistoga in 1996, Thomas began working at a local wine spot where he met Ehren Jordan of Failla who brought him onto the Turley team and found him to be a quick study and efficient contributor. In a remarkably short four years, Thomas landed his own consulting roles with heavy hitters Fred Schrader and Tor Kenward, and it was off to stardom. Thomas first came to know the Paneks as grape growers, sourcing Cabernet grapes for Pulido-Walker from their vineyard and learning the ins and outs of their property. When the Paneks made the move to begin producing their own estate wine, Thomas was the obvious pick for their winemaker.

2019 marks the second vintage for Panek Vineyards and is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from their St. Helena estate. Aging occurred in 80% new French oak over 20 months which refined this wine into an exquisite Cabernet, exemplary of the Panek plot. "Deep color in the glass, showing off a purple-black core with a dark violet rim. Layered aromatic notes suggest blackberry reduction, melted baker's chocolate, lavender and pine bough. The palate expresses densely packed notes of cocoa nib, cassis, plum compote, and cedar. These decadent notes are framed by a medium tannin structure and complimentary acidity that will allow this wine to age well for at least a decade." ~Thomas Rivers Brown