Our first vintage of Artefact Cabernet was 2005, making this is our 15th release. Time flies, but we are having a blast! 2019 was such a tremendous year for Napa and Sonoma, and we are thrilled to present this wine to you. The fruit comes from Clone 7 and 191 vines planted over 20 years ago at Kenefick Ranch in extremely rocky soils. The color is a deep purple/black, with red edges. The nose is a huge, complex, evolving beast with notes of every imaginable red, black and blue fruit, dark chocolate, sage and asian spices. On the palate, this powerful, layered Cab is drenched in luxurious fruit and framed by the finest oak spice. The tannins are present and powerful, yet ultra-fine and pillowy, giving body and character yet never seeming aggressive. The result is a velvety, powerful wine with tons of length and ability to age.
A killer effort, sourced from Kenefick Ranch in Calistoga, Relic's 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Artefact includes 4% Petit Verdot. Matured 20 months in new French oak, it offers scents of crushed stone, cedar and cassis on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is rich and expansive, creamy and lush, long and mouthwatering. This checks all the boxes, being harmonious and even pretty, while being packed with power.
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Artefact Kenefick Block 7 needs bottle age, but it’s a big, blockbuster styled effort offering lots of ripe currant and cassis fruits, notes of spicy oak and chocolate, full-bodied richness, and a layered, mouth-filling, concentrated style. A blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot brought up in new oak, hide bottles for a good 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades.
Aromas of blackcurrant, tobacco leaf, bark and sweet herbs. Medium-to full-bodied with bright, driving acidity that lifts up the dark-fruited character. The silky tannins are coated in fruit. Well structured. Best after 2025.
