Grape Culture GC21 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2021

When we first heard about Grape Culture, owner and winemaker Collin Cranor was sitting in ACME's gallery enjoying an IPO Tasting and admiring our famous wall of Napa Valley launches and legends.  When booking this tasting for old winemaker friends, little did we know that Collin was imagining his burgeoning brand on this very wall.  That day, he introduced his debut brand, Grape Culture, to ACME and shared his dedication to producing site-driven Napa Valley wines.  Grape Culture represents Collin's profoundly personal gamble to put everything on the line by moving his successful and established family winery (Nottingham Cellars) from Livermore to Napa Valley to shoot his shot.

Collin grew up in the East Bay, in Castro Valley, in a family that loved and appreciated wine. As a child, he vividly remembers playing in the sun-dappled vineyards of Duckhorn, Silver Oak, and Cakebread while his parents enjoyed an idyllic afternoon of wine tasting in the Napa Valley. His father was always considered the wine guru of his family and circle of friends and helped instill a love of wine in Collin. So, after dabbling in winemaking for several years, and with Dad’s encouragement, in 2009, Collin founded Nottingham Cellars in the nearby promising wine community of Livermore Valley. Grapes had long been grown in the area, but Collin’s wines helped foster awareness of the region in publications like the Wine Enthusiast. And they garnered many accolades. But, as for many winemakers, Napa continued to loom large in both his memory and psyche as it represented the pinnacle of viticultural and winemaking achievement. So, in 2018, Collin hired his talented friend Craig Ploof as Director of Winemaking and relocated his family to Napa to found Grape Culture.

Collin's single vineyard stunners debuted first. Next came his desire to produce a blend of vineyard sites, which can make it difficult to find harmony in the combined lots, so being patient and understanding each component throughout the entire aging process comes into play. Tasting every step of the way allows a winemaker to identify and single out the top-performing lots. GC21 showcases the top two barrels (50 cases) representing Collin's uncompromised efforts from the amazing 2021 vintage. The Preston Vineyard in Rutherford, Wolf Family Vineyard in St. Helena, and Oakview Vineyard in Oakville were ultimately revealed as outstanding and seamless, meshing into the brilliant and delicious masterpiece we present to you today!

Scintillating and expressive notes of blueberry, black cherry, cassis, and cocoa dominate the aromatics - a dense yet fresh mouthfeel takes over the show, setting the stage for a palate that is broad, textural, and opulent, ending with a delightful leap of acidity. This is a voluptuous beauty!