Pine Ridge Winery, Member, Napa Valley Vintners

Awards & Accolades:

Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate (December, 2008) – 90 points – …the deep ruby / purple-tinged wine reveals more crème de cassis, licorice, and cedar notes…it is a seriously endowed, well-made Cabernet Sauvignon to enjoy over the next 15+ years… Kudos to Pine Ridge … !

California Grapevine (September, 2008) – 89 points – Medium-dark ruby; attractive, rich, herbal, tarrish, cedary, black cherry fruit aroma with note of green olive; full body; rich, textured, cedary, blackberry fruit flavors with firm acidity; full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Highly recommended.

The Wine News (September, 2008) – 88 points – Black-garnet hue. Slow-opening bouquet of mild chocolate, evergreen and charred oak. Red fruit flavors with crisp acids, new oak and a slight chalkiness. Dry, compact, tannic finish needs to soften.

About This Wine:

The 2005 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon – a recent recipient of 90 points from Robert Parker – is incredibly aromatic, with layers of red cherry, fresh and baked berries, dark chocolate and spice accented by hints of minerality, vanilla, toffee, wintergreen mint, and tobacco. Firm and silky upon entry, the palate is equally intense, with rich, round flavors of sweet cherry, currant, tobacco, and baking spices. Supple, chewy tannins support a long, persistent finish. This wine can be enjoyed now or cellared for 10 years or more.

TASTING NOTES: The 2005 Oakville Cabernet is incredibly aromatic, with layers of red cherry, fresh and baked berries, dark chocolate and spice accented by hints of minerality, vanilla, toffee, wintergreen mint and tobacco. Firm and silky upon entry, the palate is equally intense, with rich, round flavors of sweet cherry, currant, tobacco and baking spices. Supple, chewy tannins support a long, persistent finish with dark berries, minerality, toasty oak, and toffee notes. This wine may be enjoyed now or cellared for 10 years or more.

ORIGIN: Home to some of Napa Valley’s premier vineyards, the Oakville appellation is best known for its world-famous Cabernet Sauvignon. Balance, good fruit integration and flavors of bright cherry and red berry fruit are hallmarks of wines produced in this appellation. The estate-grown Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon is carefully blended in the Bordeaux style with 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot.

VINEYARD: The Oakville AVA spans the eastern Vaca Range to the Mayacamas Mountains to the west. Grapes grown in the warmer and mid-valley temperatures of this appellation, with its gravelly soils combined with clay (the result of old Napa River fans), yield wines of great balance and structure. Our estate vineyard here is planted with clones 7, 8, and 337, on 3 × 12 and 6 × 12-foot spacings. Clone 7 was originally planted in 1988. Select areas of the vineyard are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot.

WINEMAKING: The grapes were harvested throughout the month of October, 2005. The juice was pumped over traditionally and macerated on the skins for up to 31 days before being pressed to barrel for malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged in French oak barrels for 16 months before bottling in April, 2007.

About The Winery:

What does it take to make a world-class wine? Before setting out to make one of our own, we asked ourselves this fundamental question. Looking to the most esteemed winegrowing districts of France for our answer, we found that the greatest of the great embrace three principles: pride of ownership, profound stewardship of the land, and a relentless dedication to quality. These values were already reflected in our vineyard management and our winemaking-in our dense plantings, meticulous pruning, and hand harvesting; in our artistic blending and careful selection of coopers—but our goal was to surpass our best.

Building on the groundwork laid by the founders, we set out with ardor and high aims for our vineyards, our winery, and our wines. We would care for every vine as if it were our only vine and design a grape reception and sorting process second to none. Within a year of starting, we rebalanced the vines and completely revamped our grape-handling procedures. Every vintage since has been testament to the success of our viticultural and enological pursuits.

About The Winemaker:

I look forward to working with the seasoned team here to continue to produce classically proportioned wines that are the hallmark of Pine Ridge. – Michael Beaulac, winemaker

After a long and thorough search to find the successor to a winemaking history dating back to 1978 when the winery was founded, Michael Beaulac has been appointed Winemaker and General Manager at Pine Ridge Vineyards. Inheriting the role shaped by Stacy Clark for over 25 years, brings his expertise in winemaking with an emphasis on Bordeaux varietals from his eight years as winemaker at St. Supery Vineyards and Markham Vineyards prior to that.

“Pine Ridge has a tremendous portfolio of outstanding wines that capture the essence of our exceptional estate vineyards.” says President and CEO of the Crimson Wine Group, Erle Martin. “Stacy was instrumental in bringing the winery to where it is today, and we are excited to now have Michael on board to build off of our legacy and usher Pine Ridge into a new and exciting era. “

In his new role, Michael will oversee all grape growing and winemaking operations as well as facilities management at our winery. “With the winery’s exceptional reputation and collection of estate vineyards, this position is a winemaker’s dream. I look forward to working with the seasoned team here to continue to produce classically proportioned wines that are the hallmark of Pine Ridge,” says Michael.