Obsidian 2022 Half Mile Cabernet Red Hills

The Wine

Half Mile is a winemaker blend of select barrels to showcase the power and richness of volcanic mountain fruit. Cabernet sauvignon is the core, with petit verdot giving the structure and floral signature that distinguish this wine. Petite sirah adds density and volume to the palate and beautifully integrated oak creates harmony and refinement.

THREE ELEVATION ZONES- This is at the heart of the story behind this wine, and why it tastes the way it does. The estate is planted primarily to cabernet sauvignon across three climactic zones ranging from 2,300 to 2,640 feet.

1. The uppermost portion sits above the inversion layer on the steepest, rockiest slope, ten degrees warmer on average than the lowest elevation of the vineyard. As a result, vines above 2,500’ bud and ripen a month earlier and produce powerful, ripe flavors. Small blocks of petit verdot and petite sirah are planted at the highest corner of this section at 2,640 feet elevation—exactly a half mile.
2. The lower third of the vineyard has the gentlest slope and the coolest temperatures, yielding wines that are aromatic and nuanced.
3. At the center is the most protected site, yielding beautifully balanced cabernets.

COMPONENT WINEMAKING - The “Half Mile” Cabernet Sauvignon expresses the ripeness and intensity of the highest elevation blocks, the balance of the mid-elevation vineyards and and the beautiful, nuanced aromatics of the lowest/coolest vineyard, which is still quite highe, relative to most California vineyards. 

All of the vineyards express the obsidian-rich soils of this unique site - see the images shown here, including the 1-acre pile of obsidian that was simply too large to remove from the vineyard when it was initially planted!  

The Winery

HUNGARIAN BARRELS - Obsidian wines are the only cabernet sauvignons in California (perhaps the world) aged in 100% Hungarian oak barrels. Our source forest in Tokaj is planted to the same oak species used in France, Quercus Petraea, however the trees grow more slowly due to the volcanic soils, resulting in 30% higher density of the wood. These super-tight-grain barrels are low in vanillan and are toasted slowly at low temperatures to avoid imparting overt toasty notes. For the Half Mile Cabernet blend, we use exclusively Kádár barrels from our family's own cooperage, 50% new, aged 18 months.