Stalworth Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford 2019

A decade after arriving in Napa Valley and eight years after their intended first vintage, Tim and Sabrina Persson released the inaugural wine from Stalworth. Their story is one of the phoenix rising from the ashes, having faced one devastating natural disaster after another from 2014 until 2018 when they finally harvested fruit from the vineyard. It was a feat beyond expectations bringing this wine to bottle, and we're pleased to share their second vintage, 2019, with our Apexers!

Rewinding to the beginning, Tim and Sabrina Persson landed in Napa in 2012 to take the helm of the Hess Wine Collection from Sabrina's father, Donald Hess. Tim joined Donald to learn the behind-the-scenes ropes of the wine industry after helping the business navigate the financial turmoil of the 2008 market crisis. Donald tapped Tim because of his background in corporate law and business management, as well as his eagerness to elevate the brand and bring it into the next modernized chapter. As often happens with a new generation stepping in, Tim held the kernel of a dream to create an "icon" Napa Valley Cabernet that would stand alone and above, something entirely Tim and Sabrina's own.

That's where Stalworth comes in. They searched for and found an ideal vineyard smack dab in the Rutherford bench (the couple's favorite sub-AVA of Napa.) Next, Tim and Sabrina put feelers out to find a winemaker who could make their Rutherford Cabernet sing. Consistently, the name Celia Welch came back to them as the best candidate, as her understanding of the unique Rutherford terroir surpasses that of her peers. Celia is the genius behind wines like Staglin, Castiel, Corra Wines, and, most iconically, Scarecrow. Her affinity for Rutherford wines matches that of the Perssons, having said in a 2022 Robb Report article, "How can anyone not love Rutherford? It represents the classic Napa Valley style, embracing elegance, sophistication, and timelessness."

With all the ducks seemingly in a row, Stalworth was ready to launch when tragedy struck in 2014 by way of a 6.0 earthquake in August. The disaster destroyed the main cellar and damaged the winery at Hess Wine Collection, where Stalworth was meant to be produced. When harvest came around in 2015, severe drought decimated the vineyard with too little yield for an inaugural release. A landslide in 2016 cut off electricity and access to the winery for weeks during harvest. The 2017 wildfires resulted in smoke-tainted and ruined fruit the team could not use. At last, in 2018, after continually picking themselves up and dusting themselves off, Stalworth harvested and crafted their first vintage.

It's an understatement to say the 2019 Stalworth is long-awaited and worth the wait. Blended from 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec, the wine aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Celia's tasting notes say it all: "The 2019 Stalworth Cabernet Sauvignon opens with an intense salvo of fresh ripe cherries, Santa Rosa plum, violet, and vanilla. These aromas are complemented with nuances of French licorice, mocha, and cedar, providing a dark baseline to the top notes in the nose. On the palate, the luscious round tannins are balanced beautifully with subtle oak, producing a texture that is juicy, silky, and expansive. The finish lingers with flavors of cocoa nib, nutmeg, and dark red fruit."