We understand VASO to mean vessel and use it to share the beauty and potential of the Napa Valley with you through our story, philosophy, farming practices, and wine. We take inspiration in our approach with VASO from the Korean Moon Jar crafted during the early Joseon Dynasty of 1392-1910. The remaining examples of the Moon Jar are Korean national treasures – lauded for their immense beauty and uniqueness, they continue to provide inspiration for artists of many different disciplines. The VASO Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, is a blend of four unique estate sites in the Napa Valley, with the Hershey Vineyard atop Howell Mountain providing the backbone of the wine. Through rigorous farming practices and a minimally-interventionist approach in the winery, the VASO Cabernet Sauvignon is set apart by its freshness, purity of fruit, energy, balance, and the structure to age for a decade or more. To understand VASO, you must first understand the land upon which the grapes are grown. VASO represents our four distinct vineyard sites spread throughout the Napa Valley. Whether it be through the technical and measurable characteristics of the slope, aspect, soil type, sunlight hours, or the more spiritual intangibles that make a site unique and lend the fruit its singular personality, the land is the vital core of our wines and our vision for the future.

The 2015 vintage produced excellent fruit quality. Our vineyards received slightly less than average rainfall but compared to the previous years of drought conditions the vines started the growing season with ample water in the soil. The winter and spring were among the warmest on record and pushed bud-break 2-3 weeks ahead setting up for an early harvest. The warm dry spring led to less vine growth with shorter than average shoots. However, the much smaller than average crop with small berries and loose clusters created balanced vines. The warm spring gave way to a summer that was hot and dry, causing some challenges with numerous heat spells that lasted multiple days. The small vine canopies and our dedication to minimal irrigation over the last decade paid dividends in 2015 with minimal fruit desiccation even after prolonged 100F+ days with extremely low humidity. This gave us the flexibility to harvest based on flavor, not desiccation level, and capture the character of the vineyard in the wines. The vintage will be remembered as an early, low-yielding, hot vintage, with focused wines.

The early start to the season also made for our earliest start to harvest. Starting on September 8th we harvested Crystal Spring over 3 days. Lotus was picked next on September 12th followed a week later by our earliest block at Hershey. Smaller vines and our commitment to minimal irrigation over the past decade produced intensely flavored fruit with minimal dehydration. Harvest wrapped up with the Clone 8 Cabernet at Hershey on October 12th. We used various fermentation vessels to harness the complexity of our sites. After undergoing native fermentation, the wines were drained and pressed directly to barrel where the native malolactic fermentation ran its course.

Aromatically complex, the 2015 Vaso captures the different terroirs and varieties of this Cabernet blend with fragrances of red currant, plums, sage, and loam with hints of tobacco box and spices. The entry has flavors of Bing cherries and dried herbs as the hillside tannins fill out the mid-palate. The wine supple yet structured palate. Ripe strawberry, forest floor, and a light minerality linger on the finish. Lush and approachable now, this wine will continue to develop as the years pass.