Deep ruby color; black cherry, blackcurrant, blackberry jam, black pepper, chocolate, caramel on the nose and palate.
Dry; significant, finely knit tannins, benefits from decanting. Good acidity (3.62 pH; 5.9 g/L TA). Grapes are 100% cabernet sauvignon from Yountville Ranch Vineyard on the western hillside of Napa Valley. Clusters were field sorted and hand harvested, then hand sorted at the winery. Fruit destemmed, cold soaked for two days. Fermented in stainless steel with 15 days of skin contact. Separate lots aged 20 months in highest quality new French oak, the winery only says “significant” amount of new wood. Lots blended and bottled. Very sophisticated single-vineyard expression from very high quality vineyard and maker. 14.8% ABV
Abigail Estrada is the winemaker. She honed her skills in Italy, New Zealand, and Israel as well as U.S. makers— Domaine Chandon, Robert Mondavi, and Markham (a sister winery to Textbook) before joining Textbook. Her style is attained by “keeping the lots separate, tasting throughout the year, and then integrating the components to create a harmonious, complex, unmistakable Napa Valley style.”
Jonathan and Susan Pey started Textbook Napa Valley in 2004. Jonathon spent a year in his youth in France when his father’s work transferred him. During that time, he discovered wine was as much a part of a meal as milk. Returning from abroad he earned his undergraduate degree in agronomy from the University of Arizona and began working as a sales manager for Kobrand Corp in New York City. During that time, he discovered Napa and centered on Oakville as the place he wanted to have a winery. And he made it so.
The Textbook name came about when Jonathan was tasting his first vintage from barrel. He remembers pulling out the wine with a wine thief into a glass and noticing the dark color, the density, the texture and the exotic aromas. He said something like, “this is classic Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon—so textbook like.” The name rang true and, surprisingly was not trademarked. He says his goal with his Napa Valley cab is to provide its varietal expression and make people want to say, “this is what Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon smells and tastes like.” The same applies to sauv blanc.
In 2019, with the business side of wine taking up more and more of his time, Jonathan sold the winery to Distinguished Vineyards & Wine Partners, a group whose parent company is Kirin Brewery Company in Japan that also is associated with Mercian, a Kirin subsidiary that owns wineries in Japan, France, and Markham Vineyards in the Napa Valley. Jonathon remains active in Textbook overseeing winemaking, vineyard sources, and participating in select marketing events. He just does not have to mess with the bean counters and HR aspects as much as he once did.
Textbook Vineyards Cover-To-Cover Cabernet Sauvignon, Yountville, Napa Valley, The Pey Family 2022 is limited production, high quality, 100% cabernet sauvignon from notable Yountville vineyard. Rich, smooth excellently integrated and sophisticated, especially after decanting. Classic super premium Napa cab. $120
Pairing—grilled ribeye, New York strip, braised short ribs; grilled lamb chops, rack of lamb. Gourmet burgers with cheese, bacon, sautéed mushrooms. Grilled or roasted portobello mushrooms; wild mushroom risotto; pasta dishes with rich, tomato-based sauces. Cheese—aged cheddar is classic; aged gouda, gruyère and other Alpine-style cheeses; Spanish manchego, parmigiano-reggiano.
