Au Revoir Veeder Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Mt Veeder 2019

As harvest winds down here in Napa, we are reminded of the beautiful life cycle we so intrinsically follow with pilgrim-like devotion:  the stewardship of grapevines.  From wintertime dormancy to bud and fruit set to veraison and finally harvest, a vineyard undergoes constant transitions through the year; one change ends while the other begins with the knowledge that in 12 months, the same transformations will start once more.  Every harvest makes an impression on the vineyard, assuredly impacting the vintages to come; an unspoken but perceptible history once ultimately refined down to a bottle of wine.  

Au Revoir ("until we meet again" in French) pays homage to the history of the Mt Veeder property with the 2019 debut Cabernet Sauvignon.  Long before Au Revoir vintners Felicia Woytak and Steven Rasmussen learned of the future Veeder Ridge Vineyard, George Rubissow established his Mt Veeder parcel to be of superior terroir.  When planting the vineyards in 1980, he consulted with world-renowned winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff on all vineyard management, from which varietals on what blocks to vine spacing and row orientation, to ensure he fully realized the potential of the land.  In 2019, Felicia and Steven purchased the property, understanding it needed rehabilitation and would be an investment for generations.  The debut vintage in 2019 allowed them to take a snapshot of the vineyard at the end of its first iteration, knowing it was one of the last harvests for these vines.  Felicia and Steven chose to replant the vineyards after 2019 and viewed it not as a goodbye but as a new beginning and the next chapter of this parcel.

Veeder Ridge Vineyard spans the southern edge of Mt Veeder, boasting two distinct microclimates that benefit the red Bordeaux varietals and white wines crafted by Au Revoir.  The southwestern facing slopes of the 18-acre property complement the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot vines that stretch towards the San Francisco Bay.  Despite the near constant sunshine at the peak of Summer, the mountain air and morning fog moderate the temperatures, allowing for ultimate ripeness without overly concentrated berries.  And with the distinct soil composition of the Mayacamas, strewn with ancient seabed matter deposited millennia ago, Veeder Ridge stands out for its serendipitous grape growing capacity.  

Au Revoir’s 2019 is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon blended with 11% Petit Verdot.  The Au Revoir team employed classic Napa Valley techniques for their inaugural Cabernet Sauvignon, aging the wine for 18 months in 100% new French oak barrels.  This wine screams "mountain fruit!" with a nose filled with brambly berries, black cherry, and dried herbs.  The minerality, racing acidity, and velvety tannins give way to flavors of sage, cassis, and dark chocolate that envelop your palate.  Enjoying a glass of Au Revoir's Cabernet gives you a glimpse of why Mt Veeder is the sleeping giant of Napa's appellations.  These wines speak so strongly of their terroir, where everything comes together seemingly effortlessly but is indeed the result of many factors, not excluding the careful stewardship of the land.  Felicia and Steven admit they've loved experiencing the evolution of their first bottling, witnessing each step of its life cycle from vine to bottle.  The masterful balance of acid and tannin makes it delectable now and an age-worthy contender in your cellar.  So, if you can muster the patience, lay down a bottle of the 2019 Au Revoir Cabernet and know it's not goodbye but…until we meet again.