Macauley, Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville 2016

The Macauley Vineyard label was originally launched in the early 1980s by Mac Watson's late mother, Ann Macauley Watson with a highly regarded late harvest Sauvignon Blanc.  Many years later, with a stint at Rudd Winery under his belt, Mac resurrected the brand, and today carries on a special legacy which his mother started nearly 30 years ago. Mac's longtime friend, Kirk Venge serves as the celebrated winemaker for the Macauley Vineyard wines, continuing a very trusted relationship the two have shared since childhood.  In addition to partnering with famed grape growers David Abreu and Andy Beckstoffer, these small production wines have continued to grow to the top of the charts with critics and collectors.

 

Behind the winemaking of the project is Kirk Venge, a Napa native whose name has become synonymous with rich, bold, extravagant wines.  Growing up in Rutherford in the heart of the Napa Valley, his childhood memories are steeped in grape growing, winemaking and the fragrance of a wine cellar.  Some of Kirk's earliest memories are of helping his father, Nils (another Napa Valley winemaking legend), with basket-pressing Cabernet from the family's Saddleback Vineyard and of manning the pump switch on late night barrel racking projects.  After graduating from Saint Helena High School, Kirk pursued a degree in viticulture and oenology at the University of California at Davis, one of the most well-regarded institutions for these studies in the world.  Since then he has worked harvests all around the world but has always kept his home here in the Napa Valley, making some of the most well-regarded wines over the last couple of decades, including Macauley, Hunnicutt, B Cellars, Bacio Divino, and his own label, Venge Family Vineyards.

 

Originally planted in 1868 by pioneer viticulturalist Hamilton W. Crabb, the historic To Kalon Vineyard provides grapes for some of the Napa Valley's most sought-after wines.  To Kalon is Greek for "highest quality" or "greatest beauty."  With the Beckstoffer To Kalon property being divided into many parcels, all of which produce exceptionally high-quality fruit capable of aging brilliantly, a very small amount is available under each label thus making each individual label highly sought after.  The vineyard sits at the base of the Mayacamas Mountain Range in the Oakville American Viticulture Area and is managed by the famed Andy Beckstoffer whose passion for growing the best grapes possible is legendary in the Napa Valley.  Macualey's To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon is Clone 337 grafted onto 110 R rootstock and was planted in the early 1990s.  The clay and loam alluvial soils of the appellation gives the vines very deep roots with excellent drainage.  The berries are small, and the bunches are tight, making for a concentrated and flavorful wine of the "highest quality" and "greatest beauty."