Rising to the Occasion

They say rise to the occasion, but in 2022, the occasion kept rising. And rising. To 118°F to be exact. A record-breaking heat dome hit Napa Valley over Labor Day weekend just as vineyards, plump with Cabernet Sauvignon, were ripe for picking. 

James Molesworth put it simply: It was a very challenging year to make great wine. His Wine Spectator vintage report tells that story clearly: of over 325 Napa Valley Cabernets tasted, only 30% earned outstanding scores of 90 points or higher.

Our 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon stands proudly among that top 30%, receiving a score of 92 points and earning us a spot on Wine Spectator’s list of Top Scoring 2022s, marking our second consecutive year on the list.

We’re honored by the praise, but the true reward lies in knowing the land. A century of harvesting this vineyard site has shaped our keen understanding of how to meet each season’s challenge. This wine is a reflection of that, and others seem to agree: 

94 PTS — The Wine Independent
“Opulent.” — Lisa Perrotti-Brown

93 PTS — Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“Darn impressive.” — Joe Czerwinski

92 PTS — James Suckling
“A trim, well-balanced red.” — Jim Gordon

With a little sweat on our brow,

The Salvestrin Family