Varozza Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Saint Helena 2008

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This is the second release from a revived winery family that dates to 1913. Swiss-born Joseph Varozza made wine on Pratt Avenue just north of St. Helena under the JA Varozza label until his death in ’46. It’s from the 37-acre vineyard that Joseph’s grandson Jack began leasing in 1999, that the Varozza label was reborn.Winemaker Bill Ballentine (St. Clement ’98-’01, Astrale e Terra ’01-present, William Cole, present), a childhood friend of Jack Varozza, is one of those few remaining producers who believes in not releasing a wine until it’s really, or at least close, to being ready. In this case, the wine spent 36 months in French barrels – four new, the rest 3 years old. Therefore, at about the time Varozza released this Cab, the rest of California was beginning to putting their ‘03s on the market. I applaud Varozza for the practice and it shows in the bottle. While the wine is still very tight with a goodly dose of tannin, one can already tell that it possesses delicious black fruit, is well-balanced, and has a long, long finish. However, despite the delayed release, the wine still needs a couple more years and then it will show its stuff over the next 15.The vineyard sits near the juncture of York Creek and the Napa River so all of the alluvial soils have been deposited in this vineyard creating a rich foundation. Some of the Cab blocks, at 60 years old, are considered “old vines,” but a replanting program has been undertaken. Listed alcohol is 14.2 %. There were 350 cases produced.

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Region: USA » California » Napa » St. Helena

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Winery: Varozza Vineyards

Color: Red

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon

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Varozza Vineyards:

The original scissor press and redwood tanks are still located on the top floor of the winery, built in 1885, utilizing gravity and hand pumps to move the grapes and wine. Joseph Varozza sold wines locally and in San Francisco under the JA Varozza label. We bottled 368 cases of 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon and 168 cases of 2002 Petite Sirah - again with the help of family and very good friends… and some even came back after last year! Varozza Vineyards is a small family owned winery in St. Helena, the heart of the Napa Valley. In the Varozza Family for ninety six years - the stone and wood winery, built in 1885, and the mostly old vine vineyard are currently owned and operated by Jack Varozza. A total of forty acres, we keep a select amount of premium fruit for the Varozza Vineyards wines, while we sell the balance of our fruit to other premium Napa Valley Wineries. Jack personally oversees the entire vineyard and wine making process with the fruit hand picked at its optimum. Attention to detail and quality in the vineyard comes through in these small production hand crafted wines. They are barrel aged for thirty six months in French oak and released after eighteen to twenty four months in the bottle; we age them so you don’t have to. Our goal is to nurture these sixty year old vines to produce a wine that expresses our love and commitment for this little vineyard that is generations in the making and to take the time needed and not rush the wines so they are ready to drink when you get them. Our wines are produced from blocks three and nine old vine Cabernet Sauvignon and block four old vine Petite Sirah. They are 100% St. Helena Appellation, Estate Grown and a total of 550 cases are produced a year. The two story stone and wood winery was finished and dedicated in 1885. The owner, Emil Zange, produced wine here from 1885 to 1913 when he sold the winery to Joseph Varozza. Joseph continued to produce wine here until he passed away in 1946. Currently undergoing a seismic retrofit we anticipate use of the winery to begin again in 2008. Read less

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