Cafaro Cellars > California

Cafaro Cellars > California > USA

NAPA VALLEY

"I am passionate about making elegant, balanced wines of classic proportions. My goal is to create wines that are both graceful and worthy of aging, wines to enjoy with friends at dinner tonight or age in your cellar for years to come."

Having worked in the Napa Valley for over 30 years, Joe Cafaro produces wines of great depth and complexity that are both elegant and lush. He sees winemaking as traditional in form and modern in execution. He pumps the fermenting juice over the cap to extract the most from the fruit, ferments in stainless steel to control temperature and ages the young wines in small French and American oak barrels for two years, followed by an additional year in the bottle prior to release. Production is very limited.

Before founding Cafaro Cellars in 1986, Joe Cafaro made wine at a number of the top small wineries in the Napa Valley (Chappellet, Keenan, Acacia, Robert Sinskey, Oakville Ranch Vineyard and Dalla Valle) and remains a consulting winemaker today at Emilio's Terrace.

Joe Cafaro and his wife Libby developed a 15 acre vineyard in the eastern hills south of the Stag's Leap appellation in 1996. The vineyard is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Syrah. The first grapes from the new vineyard were harvested in 1999. Now this estate vineyard is the only source of fruit for Cafaro Cellars.

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Cabernet Sauvignon

Varietal: 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petit Verdot. Picking Dates: Sept. 14 - Sept. 29, 2001. Oak Barrels: 95% French and 5% American (50% New). Time in Barrels: 20 Months.

Cases Produced: 1425 cases of 750 ml.

This blend is produced entirely from grapes grown in the Cafaro Family Vineyard. Their vineyard is in the eastern hills of Napa Valley just south of the Stags Leap Appellation. The hillside land was selected specifically by winemaker Joe Cafaro to cultivate fruit that would yield many layers of aroma and flavor, allowing him to produce this wine, which offers exceptional concentration even in its youth. Similar bright and deep flavors on the palate enhance the stylish elegance. The structure is accessible for enjoying with many dishes from grilled meat and fish to pasta and burgers.

Merlot

Varietal: 89% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. Picking Dates: Sept. 3 - Sept. 29, 2001. Oak Barrels: 95% French and 5% American (50% New). Time in Barrels: 20 Months. Cases Produced: 1250 cases of 750 ml.

This wine is composed entirely of fruit harvested from the estate vineyard in the eastern hills just south of the Stags Leap appellation. Having an estate vineyard means the producer has complete control over every detail of grape growing, allowing him to personally cultivate his own fruit, thereby controlling the quality of his wines. The 2001 vintage is currently ready to be enjoyed with a wide range of dishes [it would be really great to have some pairing suggestions, or perhaps something you enjoy cooking, a recipe for example. The flavors and aromas are forward and ripe without being overpowering -- a wine well suited to accompany food. The oak barrels provide a touch of cedar, and the combination of structure, depth and richness makes this 2001 Merlot a wine to be enjoyed now, or it will age well in your cellar if you can wait. The Merlot, like all Cafaro wines, is balanced, elegant and has a long finish. These characters enhance and compliment almost any food. The old wine generalization of, “red wine for red meats and white wine for white meats”, just does not hold up today. This wine will compliment roasted turkey, grilled or broiled chicken and grilled fish just as well as pork chops, ribs and hamburgers.

Syrah

Varietal: 98% Syrah, 2% Petit Verdot.

Picking Dates: September 19, 2002.

Oak Barrels: 50% French and 50% American (25% New). Time in Barrels: 10 Months. Cases Produced: 364 cases.

This is the third Syrah from Cafaro Cellars and is 100% estate grown grapes from our Cafaro Family Vineyard. Complete control over the growing and cultivation of the grapes gives us complete control over the wine style and quality of our wines. Many Syrah producers from France, Australia, and California blend a small amount of another grape to add complexity and length to the Syrah. We believe that Petit Verdot adds this complexity to our Syrah. We are very please and excited with our 2002 vintage Syrah. It is not only an exciting vintage but also showcases the high quality level and potential of our Cafaro Family Vineyard.

The 2002 Cafaro Napa Valley Syrah is deep, rich, dark and very complex. At the same time it is elegant with balanced complexity to go with many dishes. The oak and grape tannins are in perfect harmony with the youthful Syrah aromas. The 2002 Syrah finishes long and multi-layered.