Mt. Brave 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley

Setting the standard in Mountain Winemaking, Mt. Brave is a single-estate vineyard in the northernmost part of the Mt. Veeder appellation. Mt. Brave vineyard ranges in elevation from 1,400 to 1,800 feet in elevation and is planted to 35.5 acres of vines. It's high elevations, nutrient-poor rocky soils, steep slopes, and challenging harvesting conditions differentiate Mt. Brave from most Napa Valley vineyards. All of the vineyard work is done by hand, due to the rugged conditions and steep slopes of Mt. Veeder

Winemaker Chris Carpenter began his winemaking expertise in Napa mountain terroir in 1998, having since earned several 100-point Robert Parker scores. Extreme viticulture and winemaking are his forte.
 
This 2017 is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec, 1.5% Cabernet Franc, 1.5% Petit Verdot aged 20 months in French oak, 94% new.

Selected #68 of Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2020. They scored this 95 points saying "This offers blackberry, boysenberry and açaí berry compote flavors that sparkle with anise, sassafras and sage accents. Shows serious tarry grip, but that recedes into the fruit as this airs in the glass, leaving embers of singed juniper and alder at the very end. Best from 2023 through 2040."

The Wine Advocate scored this 95 points saying "Two percent of the Malbec in the blend this year comes from the 2018 vintage. Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder bursts out of the glass with vivacious black currants, black cherries and wild blueberries notes with touches of dark chocolate, licorice, violets and cloves. Full-bodied, firm and very finely grained in terms of texture, the palate explodes with fruit and freshness, finishing very long and wonderfully fragrant. Impressive!"

Wine Enthusiast Magazine awarded this an "Editors' Choice" and scored it 94 points saying "Densely built in cassis, dried herb, cedar and sage, this lovely wine from the great appellation shows structure and grip in its youth. Dusty gravel adds to the weight and texture, with ample acidity to keep it fresh in the glass."