Marineau Mills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga 2023

Sometimes the best wines come from the most unexpected beginnings. Marineau Mills was born when Sébastien Marineau-Mes and Emily Mills Marineau purchased a Calistoga property in 2018, intending to build a home. However, the vineyard already planted there inspired a new vision. Rather than selling the grapes, they launched their own wine brand, blending their names into a label that would become synonymous with elegance, precision, and place.

Their 5.5-acre estate sits along the Silverado Trail, with less than an acre of hillside Cabernet Sauvignon planted on rocky volcanic soils. These vines, originally part of the Saviez family holdings and replanted in 2005, thrive under the careful guidance of Pina Vineyard Management. The vineyard’s complex soil profile, featuring three distinct soil types, produces grapes with remarkable structure and a consistent expression of red fruit. Winemaker Ashley Hepworth, formerly of Joseph Phelps, brings her analytical, nuanced approach to each bottle, ensuring the vineyard's natural expression shines through.

The 2023 Marineau Mills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% varietal, and it exemplifies the vineyard's character beautifully. On the nose, bright red fruits jump forward—cherry, raspberry, currant, and plum—with a subtle note of red chili spice adding intrigue. On the palate, the wine is fresh and lively, with red cherry, currant, cranberry, and plum flavors unfolding seamlessly. Tannins are slightly gravelly yet well-rounded, providing a texture that’s both refined and approachable.