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The ‘Cœur de Vallée’ vineyard in the world-renowned Oakville appellation overlooks Mount St. John in the Mayacamas Range and shares the same soil profile as the nearby To Kalon vineyard.

After a maceration in 600 liter puncheons and in small capacity tanks, the wine ages in small French oak barrels in the cool cellars for 16 months.
Propietary Name Cœur de Vallée
Name Meaning Heart of the Valley
Varietal composition 75% Cabernet Sauvignon &
25% Cabernet Franc
Type of wine Vineyard designated
Appellation Oakville, Napa Valley
Vineyard singularity Morlet Family ‘Cœur de Vallée’ Vineyard
Bale soils, loamy topsoil on loamy & clay-loamy subsoils
Typical harvest date October
Picking Manual, small lugs, refer truck
Sorting Cluster by cluster, berry per berry
Fermentation Through native yeast.
Punch downs
Tank and Puncheons
Upbringing 16 months
French oak from artisan coopers
Bottling Unfiltered
Cellaring time 10+ years
Serving Room temperature
Decanting recommended

Winemaker notes:

Located in the world-renowned Oakville appellation, in the heart of the Napa Valley, our Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc vines benefit from the gravelly and loamy Bale soil derived from an alluvial fan in this warm yet temperate climate. Handcrafted using classical winemaking techniques, this wine is dedicated to Dr. Richard Johnson and Dr. Nancy Hampel who have always demonstrated their kindness of heart. It is ‘Heart of the Valley’ or ‘Cœur de Vallée.’

Deep garnet-purple in color, the ‘Cœur de Vallée’ is characterized by a striking bouquet of lavender and violets over a core of sweet red berries, crème de cassis, Chambord liqueur, blackcurrants and licorice, and com­pelling notes of mocha, espresso, chocolate and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied with an impressive fine-grained texture, this powerful yet refined Cabernet Sauvignon is expressive from start to finish, boasting a background freshness that supports the intense black fruit layers. The wine displays an extraordinary concentration, richness, fi­nesse and purity while possessing silky and polished tan­nins leading to an elegant lift on the long, lush finish. Featuring the interaction of the clayish yet well-draining gravelly volcanic soil, the site’s microclimates and the low-interventionistic Morlet winemaking approach, the stunning ‘Cœur de Vallée’ ages gracefully for decades.