Parable Trailside Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford 2022

A parable, in its truest sense, is a quiet guide. It is an elegant narrative that uses metaphor to illuminate something deeper about our shared human experience. It invites reflection, rewards patience, and reveals truth one layer at a time. This philosophy pulses at the heart of Parable, the Eppright family's deeply personal venture into Napa Valley winegrowing.

Fred Eppright built his life and career from humble origins, ultimately achieving success in commercial real estate. But it was the encouragement of his son Trey, an avid collector and student of Napa Valley wines, that sparked the family's next chapter. Together with Fred's younger son Matt, the Epprights followed their curiosity straight to Calistoga, where Trey eventually relocated and uncovered a historic winery estate that felt destined for revival. With industry veteran Brian Kelleher guiding the project, Parable launched in 2021 with a singular mission: craft Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon that inspire contemplation, beauty, and connection. Currently, the team is breaking ground on a vineyard and winery in Calistoga, with the ultimate dream of creating a legacy family estate for generations yet to come. But for now, the Epprights have been beyond fortunate to secure contracts with some of Napa's finest vineyards.

In 2022, a contract for fruit from one of Napa's most coveted vineyards came to fruition, and the Epprights found themselves with Trailside Cabernet Sauvignon. Before it was Trailside Vineyard, this storied plot was called Wildwood Ranch and supplied fruit to some of Napa's founding wineries, including Sterling, Beaulieu Vineyard, Spring Mountain, and Heitz Cellars. In 1984, Joe Heitz's vineyard manager and friend, Jack Neal, told him that Wildwood parcels would soon be on the market, as the owners needed to sell for cash. Joe had long admired the vineyard and jumped at the chance, purchasing his first plot of Trailside and cementing the vineyard's place in the Heitz Cellar lineup as a predominant source. The 85-acre vineyard lies on the eastern side of Rutherford at the intersection of the Silverado Trail and Conn Creek Road. When sharing Napa's winemaking history, Trailside couldn't be a more quintessential vineyard.

With 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine exhibits power, depth, and elegance and a touch of that signature Rutherford dust. "A commanding bouquet of crème de cassis, dark plum, and cocoa powder opens up to a multi-layered palate of blackberry compote, espresso, and an elegant slate minerality. Framed by fine-grained, muscular tannins…it is a magnificent, age-worthy valley-floor red." ~Winery tasting notes