Winery's Notes: "After years of conversations and patience, we began working with Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon in 2018 from two very special blocks at the Phillips’ Ranch. The mother block of the Eisele clone, the budwood for which was given by Bart Araujo to Bruce Phillips, is on a steep, east-facing slope. This stunning fruit transforms into wine with notes of cassis, cassis bud, and violets that are captivating in their purity. We fervently 'won' one ton of gorgeous fruit from this block at the 2018 Harvest Stomp Auction, which benefits the Napa Valley Farmworkers Foundation and Napa Valley Grapegrowers. Bidding far exceeded our original budget, and Bruce and Heather were so astounded by the final price, they graciously offered us a small amount of fruit from an additional block, which we enthusiastically accepted. This second block is on a bench of rhyolitic deposits, resulting in a wine of greater structure with notes of boysenberry, deep forest, white flowers, and delicate minerality."
JEB DUNNUCK 96 POINTS - "My favorite of the trio of Cabernet Sauvignon releases from Keplinger, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard is all variety from a great site in the southern part of the Oakville appellation. Darker berries, chocolate, tobacco, and sweet earth-like notes all define the bouquet, and this beauty is full-bodied on the palate and has a layered, concentrated mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. This vineyard excelled in the vintage, and you can clearly see that here. I love it today, yet I see no reason it shouldn't have 15+ years of prime drinking ahead of it."
JEB DUNNUCK 96 POINTS - "My favorite of the trio of Cabernet Sauvignon releases from Keplinger, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard is all variety from a great site in the southern part of the Oakville appellation. Darker berries, chocolate, tobacco, and sweet earth-like notes all define the bouquet, and this beauty is full-bodied on the palate and has a layered, concentrated mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. This vineyard excelled in the vintage, and you can clearly see that here. I love it today, yet I see no reason it shouldn't have 15+ years of prime drinking ahead of it."
