Portfolio Limited Edition Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2019

Exclusive release                                                              Portfolio Winery is a tiny-production Cabernet producer between husband and wife Geneviève and Luc Janssens. Geneviève was the longtime winemaker for Robert Mondavi Winery. Highly recommended. 96 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Made by Genevieve and Luc Janssens, the Portfolio Red Wine reveals a saturated purple hue to go with a dense, decadently concentrated style in its blackcurrants, roasted herbs, lead pencil shaving, and chocolaty aromas and flavors. It has classic 2018 structure, full body, ripe, building tannins, and a great finish. This powerful, gorgeous, balanced 2018 will evolve for two decades." 94 Points Wine Spectator: "A restrained style, with a large core of warmed cassis and plum puree moving slowly and steadily, letting in flashes of violet, smoldering tobacco and warm humus along the way. Reveals tobacco and warm paving stone notes that echo through the broad, yet fine-grained and well-defined finish, which has a lingering echo of purity. Lovely. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2024 through 2038. 200 cases made." Robert Parker: "Portfolio was founded in 1998 by Genevieve and Luc Janssens. Genevieve is, of course, famous in Napa Valley for her time as the chief winemaker at Robert Mondavi winery. And so, Genevieve is the winemaking side of this collaboration while her husband, Luc, a professional artist, is the creative hand behind the label. This is a tiny project, producing less than 250 cases each year. The Cabernet Sauvignon backbone of the wine is sourced from a single block of Hendry Ranch vineyard—block 8. The small proportion of Cabernet Franc comes from Detert East vineyard in Oakville. The wine is made at the couple’s home, and everything is as hands-on as winemaking can get—no pump from crushing to bottle, no fining, no filtration, all gravity fed (via a forklift). Everything is hand destemmed, dry ice is used for temperature control, and the grapes are pressed using a simple basket press. Bottling is performed by hand. The finished product just goes to show how much purity, vineyard expression and poise can be achieved even with the most basic equipment...when a highly knowledgeable and experienced winemaker is involved. "

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