What a pleasure to taste Cabernet that shows an impressive balance of concentration balanced with restraint. With yields between 1 and 2 tons per acre, the focus is clearly on quality over quantity. Total production lands around just 100 cases. 2019 was a gift from Mother Nature- a long, cool growing season made for a complex wine with beautifully integrated tannins. The wine saw a moderate 22 months in 50% new oak, and the result is delightful. Dark currant, tobacco leaf, and cedar meld with a silky palate, which is accompanied by a long finish.

About Sylvie Estate:
One of the most exciting projects in the valley has been quietly making its mark since its debut vintage in 2015. In 1989, Henry and Christina Lopez purchased a small plot of land in the eastern hills of Oakville, tucked into the Vaca Mountain Range. They planted 0.7 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and received official organic certification in 2013, just before launching Sylvie Estate—named for Christina’s mother. Their prestigious neighbors include Dalla Valle, Rudd Estate, and Joseph Phelps’ Backus Vineyard. Like many of them, the soil here is iron-rich, orange red in color, and strewn with an abundance of rocks.

Today, the estate produces exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon along with its newly released Sémillon, crafted by Sally Johnson-Blum, who was the winemaker at Pride Vineyards for 15 years. Before Sally took the helm, the wines were made by Kurt Niznik, whose previous experience includes Continuum Estate and Caldwell Winery. From the beginning, these wines have been defined by their impeccable balance and reverence for classically styled expressions.