Chiron Mountain Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2018

The verdant, majestic Mayacamas Mountains stretch for 52 miles in a northwest-southeasterly direction, and their redwood-studded spine forms much of the border between Napa and Sonoma Counties. These fog-enshrouded peaks take their name from a branch of the Wappo tribe who, for generations, had a village on the Napa-side slopes about a mile south of present-day Calistoga. And later, in the 19th Century, forward-thinking agricultural pioneers forsook farming with ease on the valley floor and moved rock and stone to establish vineyards and caves in this inhospitable terrain. Some of these historic, ivy-clad wineries, such as Mayacamas, Schramsberg, and Spring Mountain Vineyards survive today. The intrepid settlers’ hunch that mountain fruit grown in volcanic soil would contribute to richer, more complex wines proved true and inspired many contemporary winemakers. Such is the case with the Mountain Reserve from Chiron Wines- dense and concentrated; this wine is a testament to what can be achieved with Cabernet Sauvignon grown in these storied hills. 

Chiron (pronounced KY-ren) is a family label initiated in 2015 by Mark McCoy and his son and winemaker Bobby Moy. The celestial key featured on the label represents the restoration of balance in life for Chiron. According to Greek lore, Chiron was a centaur and, unlike his wild, barbaric brethren, was a revered teacher of culture and science, laying the foundation for a healthy society. Mark, an erudite man himself, has a home in Napa with a small vineyard and has pursued wine-related coursework at UC Davis, Napa Valley College, and Sonoma State University. But the duo also sources fruit from nearby growers who share their love of living soils to grow the best possible grapes. Bobby grew up here in Napa, but his love of the outdoors led him to Oregon State University, where he earned a degree in enology and viticulture. After graduation and working several harvests on California’s Central Coast, Bobby moved home to Napa and convinced his father to begin making wine together.  

Meant to be a benchmark of mountain Cabernet, the Mountain Reserve is a blend of multiple organic and sustainably farmed vineyards up and down the eastern facing slopes of the Mayacamas. The long, ideal growing season in 2018 allowed Bobby to hang the fruit long into October, coaxing out as much flavor maturity as possible. Entirely picked by hand, the grapes were wholly destemmed and took about eighteen days to ferment. An extended period of maceration on the skins, 75 days, resulted in a wine with firm and structured tannins. The Mountain Reserve was then matured in 70% new French oak for 22 months allowing for a solid backbone and broad tannins to unite with the acidity, balancing the texture and flavor. The aromas are both polished and rustic at the same time. As you begin to sip on this Cabernet, you are swept away by rich black fruits, flavors of conifer forest, and volcanic minerality. The interplay of pine needles, loganberry, traditional black currant, and balanced oak keep you engaged and wanting more. It’s quite youthful, but not shy at all, and living proof these mountains were worth the climb.