Salvestrin Dr. Crane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

*Wine Spectator #9 Wine of 2021* Three generations of the Salvestrin Family have been selling grapes to from their Estate Vineyard in Napa Valley to the best Cabernet producers which now goes into their own wine. The Dr. Crane Cabernet from a legendary vineyard is produced in tiny amounts - limited. 95 Points Wine Spectator: "Bright and fresh, with lots of red currant, plum and black cherry fruit notes driving along nicely, while a subtle tug of iron runs underneath. Late floral and warm earth flashes on the finish add more range and contrast. Focused, detailed and really well built. Best from 2022 through 2035." 94 Points Robert Parker:  "Picked well before the Glass Fire (between September 5th and 18th), the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Crane Vineyard is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc. Cherry fruit dominates, although there are hints of darker fruit, cigar box and mocha. Full-bodied and richly concentrated, this is a clear step up from the Napa bottling, finishing long, lush and velvety, with a deep, earthy undercurrent." Rich Salvestrin’s grandparents arrived in St. Helena in the 1920s, having fled Italy and the ravages of World War I. In 1932, they purchased part of the ranch started by George Belden Crane in 1858. The property has farmed vines since Crane’s time and is considered one of Napa’s most historic vineyard sites. Today, Salvestrin owns 19 of the remaining 50 acres of the Dr. Crane Vineyard, along with Crane’s original house (converted into a B&B). Winemaker Natalie Winkler was hired in 2017. She started a shift to organic growing practices in the vineyard and has shown a deft touch with the grapes, emphasizing a red fruit and mineral profile that relies on purity.  

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