Hibou Nocturnal Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2021

A gold owl, an ancient cultural signifier of wisdom, adorns the Hibou label.  Patient and tenacious seekers, did you know that a flock of these sage avians is called a parliament?  They are also great friends of the vineyard-their ecological benefits lead many growers to outfit their vineyards with nesting boxes to encourage their habitation.  So, the husband-and-wife team, Jason and Hilary Driscoll, who focus singularly on seeking out exceptional vineyard sources, decided “Hibou” (pronounced ee-boo), the French word for owl, seemed the perfect fit for their wine label.  Nocturnal is the first blended Cabernet from Hibou, showcasing the best qualities from their three single-vineyard sources.  Just as the nocturnal owl hunts at night, searching from place to place for the ultimate reward, so has Jason selected the fruit for this cuvee from outstanding vineyards to become a whole greater than the sum of its parts.

A trained chef, Jason’s first foray into wine was a harvest spent at Elsom Cellars, a small family winery in Woodinville, Washington.  The family relocated to St. Helena to fulfill his dream of working at the Culinary Institute of America.  After spending time balancing kitchen apprenticeships and winery work, Jason eventually gravitated toward the cellar’s slower pace and in-depth processes.  Hibou allows Jason to express his passion across a broad palette of microclimates as he sources flavorful fruit from exceptional vineyards throughout Northern California.  Like an owl in pursuit, once he sets his sights on the fruit he wants to work with, he uses culinary persuasion to help seal the deal.  Jason once knocked on a grower’s farmhouse door with a picnic basket of homemade pâté and champagne.  After a nice lunch, a chat, and a stroll through the vines, he had a fruit contract in hand.

Jason keeps the winemaking incredibly simple: sample the fruit, measure the sugar levels, and thoughtfully and carefully harvest by hand.  This first vintage of Nocturnal comes from two renowned but secret Rutherford vineyards and one Oakville vineyard.  Fermentation occurred over three weeks, with the juice gently pumping over the cap twice daily to submerge the skins for total extraction of color and tannin.  The wine went into French oak barrels (30% new), to rest in the cellar for 19 months and give way for aromas and flavors to meld.

Swirling aromas of freshly roasted coffee, cocoa, and crushed rose petals are first out of the glass and prepare you for a palate lush with blueberries and blackberries, warm baking spices, and pipe tobacco.  Crafted with approachability in youth in mind, the dark fruit flavors are vibrantly inviting and supported by a core of firm tannins.  The 2021 Nocturnal Cabernet is a wine for any day of the week with the ability to pair gorgeously with your Sunday roast or take the edge off a long Monday.  It has all the pedigree of a cult-worthy single vineyard red with none of the pretension.  Whenever and however you choose to pop this bottle, your hunt for a satiating Cabernet will be over.