Winemaker Notes

The 2017 Ardante Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Merlot. The source for this wine is from Yates Family Vineyard, up near the top of Mount Veeder. Showing mountain fruit characteristics, this wine is deep purple/ruby in color, with black fruits filling up the nose. Fullbodied, scores of blackberries, and black cherry flavors with a nice spice box base. A bit of patience on this wine, as a few years of aging will tame the tannic edge that drapes the mouthcoating fresh black fruits. 

Harvest Notes

The winter of 2016-2017 finally showed some relief from the four straight years of drought seen in California. With a wetter than normal winter, the growing season started closer to normal, with flowering occurring early June. Hanging above the fog line most of the season, the vines remained healthy with loose clusters and small berries showing a 2017 saw ravaging wildfires in mid-October, that destroyed land and structures in both Napa and Sonoma. The fruit for this wine was picked well ahead of the fire dangers.