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 2003

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 2005

Pick Dates: September 29 – 25, 2005

Vineyards: Cafaro Family Vineyard (100%)

Oak Barrels: 95% French and 5% American (50% New)

Time in Barrels: 20 Months

Varietal Composition: 90% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot

Brix: 25.8

Time in Bottle: 19 months

Bottle Date: August 2007

Cases Produced: 320 Cases

Tasting Notes:

All of our wines come from our estate vineyard in the eastern hills just south of the Stags Leap appellation. Having an estate vineyard gives us complete control over every detail growing the grapes to enhance and improve the quality of our wines.

The 2005 vintage is accessible and balanced to accompany with a wide range of dishes. It has a refreshing leanness, with a bright, focused finish. It’s a concentrated wine, with smoky oak notes. The flavors and aromas are forward, perfumed plush red fruit, and ripe without being overpowering – a wine that goes with food. There is also a touch of cedar from the oak barrels. The combination of structure, depth and richness makes this 2005 Merlot drinkable now but it could easily age if you can wait.

Syrah 2005

Pick Dates: September 23, 2005

Vineyards: Cafaro Family Vineyard (100%)

Oak Barrels: 50% French and 50% American (20% new)

Time in Barrels: 10 Months

Varietal Composition: 98% Syrah, 2% Petit Verdot

Bottle Date: August 2006

Cases Produced: 290 Cases

This is the sixth 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 spicy complexity to our Syrah.

The 2005 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 finish is long and multi-layered.

Alta Tierra 2001

92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot

Vineyards: Cafaro Family Vineyard (100%)

Oak Barrels: 95% French and 5% American (80% new)

Aging: 2 years in barrels and 4 years in bottle before release

1200 bottles produced

The Alta Tierra, literally high soil, is the best of the best from Cafaro's hillside vineyard. Alta Tierra will be bottled only in the best vintages and from the best wines of that vintage. The 2001 is the first release.

The 2001 Alta Tierra is deep ruby in color with ripe aromas of black cherry and plum. French oak imparts a subtle caramel characteristic, complimenting the blueberry flavors. The finish lingers with hints of chocolate and tobacco. Longer bottle aging creates subtle balanced tannins. Youthful and friendly now, this wine should continue to develop beautifully for 10 to 15 years.