Description

2020 ULYSSES

Oakville – Napa Valley

Ulysses is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of  Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

 

Harvest Start: Sept 14th

Harvest End: Sept 25th

Cases Produced: 700

Release Date March 2024

 

WEATHER 2020:  

• The vintage was characterized by a dry winter and spring, with a total of 17” of rain from July 2019 to June 2020 (historical average: 31”).

• With warm temperatures in the spring and well-drained soils, vines developed balanced shoot growth.

• Summer temperatures were constantly warm allowing a fast and homogeneous ripening.

• In the night of August 16th to 17th, about 11,000 lightning strikes across northern California were recorded and sparked the LNU Lightning Complex fires.

• Until mid-September, there were several days with dense smoke.

• Testing and microfermentations confirmed that the berries were unaffected by smoke taint.

• The vines and fruit were rinsed prior to picking.

• Harvest was completed before grapes could be affected by the Glass Fire which started on September 27.

• Selection by hand and optical sorting were critical to remove berries impacted by the heat.

Winemaker’s Notes: 

Tart cherry, thyme, citrus, blonde tobacco with firm tannins and a powerful persistent finish.

 

James Suckling – 98 Points

Aromas of tangerine zest and blackcurrants, with the perfume of fresh flowers. Full-bodied with a dusty texture to the tannins. Gorgeous. Nuanced and pure. Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of cabernet franc and petit verdot. Needs three or four years to open.

Jeb Dunnuck – 94 Points

Another incredibly successful 2020, the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon offers a big, rich, powerful profile offering ample chocolaty dark fruits, some tobacco, eucalyptus, and mint herb nuances, an expansive, layered texture, and building yet polished and ripe tannins.

It’s a beautiful wine that should age gracefully for 15-20 years.

 

2020  |  Tech Sheet  |  POS  |  Label  |  Bottle Shot