The hugely-heralded 2013 vintage in Napa Valley is famous for good reason: its balance of ripe fruit and structure is second to no vintage that anyone can remember. Our flagship Cabernet: Artefact, shows this balance and reflects its vineyards with a sense of place. It is composed of 94% Kenefick Ranch and 6% Corona Vineyard. The very special Kenefick parcel is located off Pickett Road close to the hills across the street from its famous neighbor, and consists of clones 7, 191, and 341. The Corona Vineyard is in Oakville’s western hills utilizing clone 337. The combination of these two sites has been the winning formula for Artefact since 2011. Kenefick provides complex layers of soft, lush, deep fruit with a freshness that is unexpected; while the Corona, planted in pure shale, supplies dense mountain structure and minerality with dark, intense fruit. Notes of blackberry coulis, brandied cherries, potpourri, Asian spice and brioche lead to a rich, densely stacked palate with flavors that echo the nose. The finish is big, but avoids the heaviness and structure that some 2013's show. We are thrilled to share this wine to you! 19 barrels produced.
The blockbuster 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2013 Artefact was aged 21 months in 100% new French oak and comes completely from the Kenefick Ranch, which is adjacent to the Eisele Vineyard in Calistoga. Opaque purple and full-bodied, it offers up notes of pen ink, graphite, blackberry and cassis as well as some background toasty oak, baking spice box, licorice, and some loamy soil undertones. This big, rich, intense wine should hit its prime in about 4-5 years and last 20 or more. Another long-aging wine, and one with probably 50 years of evolution ahead of it.
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Artefact is a bold, punchy wine that captures the radiance and intensity of Kenefick Ranch without falling into the trap of being excessively heavy, which is always an issue with this warm site in Calistoga. Iron, smoke, plum, cedar and leather build into the intense finish. This is a fairly approachable wine that can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring.
