Coronet Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Knoll 2023

Brought to you by the stellar team behind Arrow&Branch Winery, Coronet is a newly launched label showcasing Arrow&Branch’s latest vineyard addition in Oak Knoll. The Lady Liberty Vineyard stretches across five acres with 30-plus-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon vines. Oak Knoll is one of the cooler climate sub-AVAs within Napa due to its proximity to San Pablo Bay. Lying just north of the city of Napa and mid-valley, the vines benefit from the morning fog that rolls in, moderating temperatures and allowing for a slightly longer ripening period. Beginning in 2021, Arrow&Branch owners Steve and Seanne Contursi took ownership of Lady Liberty, and recruited their seasoned and trusted crew to rehabilitate the property and envision a new opportunity for crafting exceptional single-vineyard Cabernets.

First up from the team was vineyard manager extraordinaire Mike Wolf, who spent the first two years studying and farming the Lady Liberty Cabernet vines before the inaugural 2023 harvest. Mike’s name is up there with the likes of David Abreu and Jim Barbour on the list of venerable viticulturists whose expertise of Napa Valley terroir rivals many. His catalog of clients includes heavy hitters like Scarecrow, ADAMVS, and Heimark. His thoughtful and meticulous approach to farming the four different clones of Cabernet at Lady Liberty has led to wines with “unparalleled elegance and depth.” Taking the baton from Mike’s care in the vineyard to the cellar is long-time Arrow&Branch winemaker, Jennifer Williams.

Beginning in the early 2000s, Jennifer Williams started her winemaking career as an intern for legendary wineries Araujo and Spottswoode. Eager to learn, she absorbed as much knowledge and experience as possible by splitting her time between the two wineries and working in the vineyards and cellars. As she studied under David Abreu, she was entranced by the organic and sustainable practices established by the famous Tony Soter in the mid-80s. Jennifer officially joined the full-time team at Spottswoode after harvest and just a couple of years later, Jennifer became the Vineyard Manager. Two years after that, she became Spottswoode’s Winemaker and earned a “Winemaker to Watch” accolade from SF Chronicle in 2007. After four years of working with and learning from legendary winemakers, Jennifer brought her outstanding talents and experience to Arrow&Branch Winery for the 2011 harvest. She’s crafted the A&B wines ever since and leads the winemaking team for Coronet with the release of the 2023 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

She crafted just 200 cases of the 2023 Reserve, which showcases 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and three of the vineyard’s four clones: 08, 15, and 337. Aging lasted for 20 months in 75% new French oak barrels and Jennifer notes the wine is, “a stunning expression of elegance and depth, with sweet vanilla, warm cinnamon, and a hint of tar complementing vibrant cherry fruit and the candy-like allure of juicy blackberries. On the palate, it's bright and fresh, while herbal nuances provide a complex backdrop. The wine's texture is superb—round, smooth, and incredibly attractive—showcasing excellent vanilla barrel impact, toasty oak, and a touch of smoky, ashy depth. A balanced combination of anise, licorice, and baking spices adds further intrigue, while the dark fruit and refined mouthfeel give this wine a long, delicious finish that's both sexy and sophisticated. It’s a beautifully structured wine with great flavor persistence, making it irresistibly charming and incredibly drinkable.”