Montecillo 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
Montecillo is the kind of vineyard where history settles into every stone and slope. There’s a quiet intensity to its red volcanic soils and terraced rows, something you sense as you walk among the old Cabernet vines perched high above the valley.
Guided by our understanding of Montecillo’s rocky site and its inherent tannin structure, we apply a gentle and precise approach in the cellar to express the vineyard’s true historic character.
Montecillo is, very simply, a Grand Cru site. The Moon Mountain District is so magical because of how dramatically different the wines are from different sites. Montecillo creates wines of precise structure, waves of unfolding and seductive complexity, and tremendous length. The penetrating intensity stays with you long after you've swallowed the wine, the hallmark of great wines.
Montecillo is a dry-farmed vineyard perched atop the Mayacamas, where ripening is closely
observed throughout the season. Harvest decisions are guided by flavor development rather than sugar alone. The vineyard’s steep, west-facing slopes and terraced rows follow the natural topography of the hillside, contributing to low vigor and concentrated fruit.
Grapes are carefully destemmed and gravity-fed into 5-ton open-top fermenters. The must undergoes a 4–5 day cold soak at 50°F, with daily homogenization to maintain a fresh, protected cap. Fermentation begins as the tank is gradually warmed to 60°F, then allowed to rise naturally to a peak of approximately 86°F. Early fermentation is managed with punch-downs and selective pump-overs to establish structure and depth. As fermentation progresses, extraction is reduced, shifting to gentle homogenization twice daily.
Once fermentation is complete, the wine is drained and the pomace gently pressed. The wine settles for 48 hours before being racked to barrel, preserving clarity, balance, and the distinctive character of the site.
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Reviews
"The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Montecillo is a total stunner. Crushed rocks, lavender, rose petal, mint, gravel, incense and blood orange all race out of the glass. A wine of rare finesse and vertical lift, the 2023 dazzles from start to finish. This is one of the classiest, most polished wines readers will find from Montecillo. Gravel, scorched earth, licorice and broad, chocolatey tannins frame the dramatic finish. The wines from this site, from all producers, seem to have taken a serious jump forward after Stewart Cellars purchased the vineyard in 2022."
- 96 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"Dark fruited, spicy and perfumed, with aromas of dried flowers and graphite. The palate is tightly wound, with mouthwatering tannins and bright acidity that cut through the layered palate of tightly packed fruit. Such a refined and pure example of cabernet sauvignon with a mountainous feel. Drink or hold."
- 95 Points, James Suckling