To Kalon Vineyard Eliza’s Red Blend 2018

To Kalon Vineyard Company’s ‘Eliza’s’ cuve is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, two varieties that best showcase the strength and spirit of this historic site at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains. The wine is named after Eliza Yount, one of Napa’s bestknown early pioneers, widow to the founder of nearby Yountville, and one-time owner of a quiet corner of To Kalon, on Walnut Lane, that is now home to our coveted planting of Cabernet Franc. This blend produces one of the most compelling examples of Napa Valley wine, with the Cabernet Franc bringing exotic spice notes and floral aromas, and the Cabernet Sauvignon providing weight, structure, and a deep, rich, black fruit character. The combination is rare and uniquely To Kalon’”a wine that is effusive and exuberant now, but one that will age for decades to come. 2018, the first vintage offering of this wine, is already being recognized as a benchmark year in the Valley.
The grapes were carefully fermented after a thoughtful sorting at the winery and macerated on the skins for almost 30 days on average to fully burnish the tannins and maximize the potential of the vineyard. Already appealing in its youth, it will become more complex in the coming years and should age well for at least 15″20 years in the bottle.