Covalence Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District 2022

From the beginning of civilization, wine has been more than something we pour into a glass. It has been a companion at the table, a witness to joy and sorrow, a thread that binds us together. The ancients raised amphorae in celebration; today, we raise bottles with friends. Across centuries and cultures, one truth remains: wine is about connection.

This is the spirit behind Covalence—a name that means “bond.” Two friends, bound by years of laughter, challenges, and shared bottles, dreamed of creating a wine that would honor the ties that endure. Their inaugural release, the 2022 Covalence Cabernet Sauvignon, is the embodiment of that dream: a wine born of friendship, of place, and of time.

The fruit comes from a 2-acre vineyard in the heart of the Stags Leap District, a rugged landscape rooted in mixed volcanic soils that give the Cabernet its depth and minerality. Guided by the artistry of Aaron Pott, the Cabernet was fermented in stainless steel, with daily pump overs to encourage energy and structure. It then slumbered for 20 months in French oak barrels—half new, half once-used—crafted by Bossuet and Sylvain. Time smoothed the edges, allowing fruit and earth, oak and spice, to find their harmony. Aromas of blackcurrant, cassis, and wild herbs rise first, grounded by graphite and cocoa. On the palate, it is both powerful and graceful—firm in structure, yet generous in fruit, its tannins woven with finesse. The finish lingers, long and steady, like the connections made over a generous meal accompanied by a great bottle of wine.