2020 Pride Mountain Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Aromas of crème de cacao, graphite, and black cherry integrate with intense notes of sandalwood and espresso. The palate is massive and remarkably concentrated, featuring layers of blackberry jam and anise supported by a skyscraper-like tannic structure. A bright, mountain-grown acidity cuts through the richness, leading to a sprawling finish that persists for over a minute.

The winemaking team, led by Matt Crafton, selects only the top 10% of the estate's fruit for the Reserve bottling. In the cellar, the grapes undergo a rigorous sorting process followed by fermentation in small stainless steel tanks. The wine matures for 22 months in 100% new French oak barrels. This extended aging in new wood provides the structural framework and spicy complexity required to balance the high-elevation fruit's natural intensity.

The fruit is grown on the crest of the Mayacamas Mountains at the Pride Mountain Estate, which straddles the boundary between Napa and Sonoma counties. The vineyards sit at elevations of 2,100 feet, well above the fog line, exposing the vines to intense ultraviolet light and thin, rocky soils. This unique position results in small, thick-skinned berries with immense phenolic concentration and the signature "mountain" tannins that define the estate's most prestigious Cabernet Sauvignon.