2015 Louis Martini 'Lot 1' Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma 1.5L

Winemaker Notes: Our acclaimed Lot 1 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is the pinnacle of our portfolio. Its history dates to 1952, when Louis P. Martini began selecting exceptional lots to showcase the finest Cabernet Sauvignon character and flavors. Today, that legacy continues with winemaker Michael Eddy, who chooses the best fruit from Napa Valley’s most premium vineyards for Lot 1, a wine that draws raves from the world’s top critics.

The grapes were hand-harvested in half-ton picking bins and hand-sorted before destemming and partial crushing. Then the grapes were fed into small lot, open top fermenters for a 3-day cold soak before primary fermentation. A small percentage was barrel fermented. The wine remained on skins for more than two weeks with alternating punch downs and pump overs, then was gravity fed and gently pressed in our basket press. Next, the wine was gravity fed into French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and aging. We kept barrel lots separate until the blend was assembled in August then sent back to barrel to allow flavors to integrate. Barrel aging was entirely in French oak, 97% new, for a total of 20 months, then another 12 months were spent in bottle.

We selected the grapes for this vintage from some of the best sites in Napa Valley, including Stagecoach Vineyard and vineyards in Oakville, Stags Leap, Coombsville and on the Silverado Bench. The 2015 season was warm and dry, and one of the earliest we’ve seen. It started with warm temperatures in late winter and spring that led to an early bud break. A cool May during bloom created a smaller than average crop, then mild weather through spring, summer and harvest allowed slow, even ripening that built full ripeness and complexity. The result was grapes with intense aromatics, concentrated ripe fruit flavors and outstanding structure and balance.

Bottles Signed by Winemaker Katie Vogt

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Wine Spectator - “Broad-shouldered and dense, with very ripe waves of raspberry, plum and boysenberry reduction flavors coursing through, inlaid with singed vanilla, apple wood and sweet tobacco accents. Cuts a wide swath through the finish, with the fruit powering through in unison with the toast and a tug of loam. A big ‘un. Best from 2020 through 2030.”

 

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