Deep ruby color; dark cherry, blackberry, raspberry, licorice, chocolate, pepper, oak on the nose and palate.
Dry; smooth, refined tannins; medium acidity. Well balanced, full body. Excellent Napa cab at this price point. Avoids the cartoonish over-ripe, over-oaked, over-alcohol efforts, which—thankfully—is trend across many Napa efforts now. Some complexity, but mostly drives down the center of the road, avoiding pratfalls and perils of supplicant devotion to the alleged predilections of Roger Parker’s palate. This is ready to drink now; mildness of the tannins and acidity indicate aging will not significantly improve the effort.
The 2022 vintage faced historic triple-digit temperatures in September, followed by rain. Winemakers refer this as “the tale of two harvests.” Juice for this comes from 22 distinct blocks of estate grapes. Wine aged 22 months in 40% new French oak, 60% once-used French oak. Lees stirred the first year, followed by three rackings in the next year of aging. Wine bottled unfined and unfiltered. Nicely integrated oak; the wood is there but is background to the ripe fruits rather than competing for attention. Some complexity, but more straightforward presentation of rich, dark Napa fruits.
Priest Ranch grapes are grown and wines made at the Somerston Estate in Napa Valley’s Eastern Hills. The eastern part of the Somerston property originally was settled by Joshua Priest, who arrived in 1849. Priest gained title to 638 acres of the Catacula land grant in Soda Valley. Priest and his descendants managed to hold most of the ranch for the next century.
Priest Ranch is a Somerston Estate brand. Allan Chapman and his wife, Kathleen, are the principal owners. Craig Becker was a co-founder, general manager, and director of winemaking for this vintage. He passed away in 2024. Cody Hurd is the winemaker today, with the 2022 release the first vintage with Hurd at the helm. Judd Wallenbrock is the CEO. Jack Knoblock is the director of vineyards.
Priest Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2022 shoots and scores for the emerging Napa cab target: plush and powerful enough to assuage that group and polished enough to stroke those who seek structure and nuance. As a split-the-difference wine it does not excel at any one thing, but it does nicely color in all the boxes. $49-55
Pairing—Maple coffee glazed pork chop; slow-roasted prime rib; slow smoked and grilled bone-in ribeye, New York strip, porterhouse. Cheese—Beehive Cheese Barely Buzzed, Cypress Grove Midnight Moon; smoked cheddar, bacon-infused. Avoid soft, young goat cheese—chèvre; pungent cheese, roquefort.
