2019 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Ruby, medium-thick legs. Black cherry, blackberry, cranberry, cigar, tar, licorice, vanilla, spices. Mildly tart, cherry cola, graphite. Medium-full, low acid, medium tannins. Light and restrained for a California Cabernet Sauvignon.

Cabaud

Benediction Estates was founded with the 2009 vintage by husband and wife, Phillip and Bonnie Cabaud. Note: they operated Cabaud Cellars for a number of years and was the wine we first met with them about. Neither are from the Napa Valley originally but both moved here along with their children and ultimately lived in St. Helena for three years. The move was motivated by Bonnie’s love of farming and interest in introducing their children to a more rural lifestyle. The perspective that one can gain in their formative years from both a urban and a rural lifestyle is invaluable and the Napa Valley is certainly a good place to raise children.

During their time in St. Helena both Phillip and Bonnie became involved in their local community – and as is the case when your living up valley, you quickly discover that the wine industry can be an integral part of your lifestyle. Their friends were professional winemakers including several for premium local brands. When Phillip approached some of them and shared his idea of making home wine from fine vineyard sources – they quickly talked him out of this idea and convinced he and Bonnie to build a professional wine brand. But the family still holds true to their original idea and make about a 1/2 barrel of wine each year for their own consumption.

While no longer living in the Napa Valley, Phillip is in Napa at least once a month via a long distance commute from Houston. Since selling their property in St. Helena they have purchased five acres on Howell Mountain and have plans to develop a vineyard and create another wine built around this single vineyard.