On a steep slope of east Oakville’s Vaca Mountains is a small vineyard owned by the Harter family. First planted to Cabernet Sauvignon by Bill Harter in 1974, its red iron-rich soils are prized by its world-renowned neighbors.
2023 Vaca Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
The Vaca Ridge vineyard forms the bulk of the Eastern Rutherford hills and extends from there to the edge of Lake Hennessey and up to Pritchard Hill to the west. Tor manages two distinct blocks within the vineyard: one Cabernet and one Cabernet Franc. The Cabernet is planted more westerly, receiving more warmth and sunlight, while the Cabernet Franc, facing Lake Hennessey, benefits from the cooling influence of the water. Each year, we ferment a blend of mostly Cabernet with a splash of Cabernet Franc as well as a blend of mostly Cabernet Franc with a splash of Cabernet. So far, both in 2021 and 2022, the wines have been better together than apart, resulting in a single wine from this site. READ MORE
The 2022 Vaca Ridge Cabernet is a combination of a co-ferment and a straight Cabernet. In 2021, we produced a straight Cabernet Franc and then a co-ferment of Cabernet and Cabernet Franc. In 2022, we made a straight Cabernet and a Cabernet Franc with some Cabernet in it. In the end, the result was the same: the two wines were blended to create a single wine. These two blocks seem to thrive when combined rather than separated. The wine was aged mostly in Taransaud and Sylvain barrels for the usual 20 months and was bottled unfined and unfiltered.
“The 2022 Vaca Ridge Cabernet exhibits a darker fruit core than most wines from 2022. This wine leans toward the wet granite, graphite side of the Cabernet spectrum, more so than other 2022 Cabernets. The mid-palate is firm but supported by notes of blackberries, slow-cooked meats, and black cherries. The finish is long, and, like our other 2022 Cabernets, this wine benefits greatly from some air rather than being consumed immediately after opening.” –Jeff Ames
Winemaker Jeff Ames and Tor Kenward, with over 70 harvests between them, find it difficult to compare 2022 to any other year. Some winemakers described it as four vintages in one, with wild temperature swings, a small crop, and narrow picking windows, making it what we call “a winemaker’s year.” Those who timed the picking windows perfectly for each block produced exceptional wines.
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