Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Our 2018 Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a powerhouse effort from our Oakville Estate Vineyard. This wine features beautiful dark red and purple hue that clings to the glass. The aromatics are plush and highly perfumed with ripe black cherries, clove, cinnamon, blackberries and currants. The palate is full and expansive. There is no pocket of the mouth unfilled or escaping this wine’s sumptuous composition. The flavors captured in this Cabernet wash over the front and through to the back of the palate for over two minutes past the initial impressions. Anticipated maturity is 2024 to 2039. IN THE VINEYARD Harvest took place early on October 1st. The cane-pruned vines were hand harvested from our Venge Estate vineyard in Oakville. The 2018 was a hot vintage that saw a small fruit set due to continued drought. The natural “culling” of the fruit set let to reduced yields and a stellar crop. Now in their 31st year, we continue to sustainably “dry farm” these vines by not allowing them any applied summer irrigation. Their roots must find water on their own and struggle in the final months of summer and early fall leading to a complexity and depth of flavor often unequaled in irrigated vineyards. IN THE CELLAR The fruit was destemmed into a combination of small stainless-steel tank fermenters, concrete vats, and open-top barriques. Time on skins lasted 14 to 45 days. The fruit was then separated to “free run” and “light press” fractions. The Cabernet was aged in 100% new, tight-grained, French Oak barrels for a lengthy 27 months. We employ a variety of cooperages for Cabernet including Boutes, Sylvain, Taransaud, Gamba and Alain Foquet. 100% native, spontaneous yeast and malolactic fermentations were also key ingredients in the making of this wine. The gentle use of gravity flow winemaking, whenever possible, is carefully exercised throughout the making of this and every Venge wine. Bottled unfiltered.
Composition
100% Cabernet SauvignonVineyard
Oakville EstateAlc. %
14.9%| Cases Produced | 380 |
|---|---|
| Closure | Natural |
| Bottle Size | Standard |
What are people saying about this wine?
My Review
Customer Reviews
Explore more wines from...
Venge Vineyards
The Venge family has farmed vitis vinifera varieties in Napa Valley for nearly half a century. It is a journey that began when Knud Venge emigrated from Denmark to the United States in the early 1900’s. Knud’s son, Per Venge, found his passion in the wine and spirits industry and started Vencom Imports, focusing on the importation of Western European fine wines and spirits. It was Per’s son, Nils Venge, who left the family business in the 1960’s with a vision to study viticulture at UC Davis and establish the family name as an icon in the winegrowing community.
The family’s viticultural roots flourished in 1976 with the purchase of a 17-acre vineyard in the Oakville District that was planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This fortunate development cast the family among the winemaking pioneers of Napa Valley.
Nils’ and Dianna Venge’s son, Kirk Venge, gravitated to winemaking at an early age. He proved to be as talented a winemaker as his father, making wines in his own style, with a vision to build on the family legacy. In 2008, Kirk achieved his lifelong dream and acquired full ownership of Venge Vineyards. Today, Kirk continues the Napa Valley heritage, focusing on select vineyard sites that produce fruit worthy of bearing the Venge family name.
In the Vineyards
Our farming experience spans nearly a half-century in the Napa Valley. We seek vineyard locations that possess the requirements for producing fruit that will bear the Venge family name: a temperate climate of warm days and cool nights, porous alluvial and hillside soils with balanced nutrient deposits, and ample degree days to promote prolonged hang time for optimal maturation.
Winemaking Philosophy
Our experience spans four decades in winemaking. Both traditional and progressive wine production techniques are embraced, although we remain focused on our core belief: only fruit grown from select vineyards that has been handled gently and naturally produces wine worthy of bottling under the Venge family name.
Tasting Room and Visitor Experience
Nestled into the eastern foothills of the Palisades Mountain range, and surrounded by our 12-acre estate vineyard, you’ll enjoy our current Venge releases in a privately hosted tasting.
Advance Reservations Are Required.
Routes that visit Venge Vineyards
Featured Wines
Discover more Cabernet Sauvignon
Other wines from Oakville
Headed to the vineyards?
Tour wine country like a pro
Download the Wine Routes app to bring your routes, wineries, and interactive tastings wherever your journey takes you!
Headed to the vineyards?
Tour wine country like a pro
Download the Wine Routes app to bring your routes, wineries, and interactive tastings wherever your journey takes you!
Headed to the vineyards?
Tour wine country like a pro
Download the Wine Routes app to bring your routes, wineries, and interactive tastings wherever your journey takes you!