Deep ruby color; black cherry, blackberry, plum, blueberry, black olive, cedar, chocolate, oak toast on the nose and palate.
Dry; moderate, pleasing, fine-grained tannins after decanting (or more years of bottle age); appropriate acidity. Medium-plus body; velvety in the mouth. Reflects expected quality of an Oakville cab—this is a Bordeaux blend led by cab with some 8% merlot. Grape clusters from Holmes Vineyard and Lincoln Creek Vineyard were field-sorted, hand-harvested, and hand-sorted at the winery. De-stemmed fruit cold soaked for two days to enhance fruit and complexity. Fermented 33 days on the skins in stainless steel, then gently pressed into French oak barrels to complete malolactic conversion. Wine spends almost two years aging in French oak, 66% new. 13.9% ABV
“Mise En Place” is French culinary phrase meaning “everything in its place.” This is classically expressive of Oakville’s dark fruit and garrigue character. Good structure, balanced, elegant. Shows restraint rather than Napa power. The dark fruit is there but not obnoxious, same with the alcohol. Luxurious delight rather than a “hey, you, pay attention to me!” pour. In that Oakville lane, this is indeed a textbook Napa cab.
Jonathan and Susan Pey started Textbook Napa Valley in 2004. Jonathan 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 so he did.
The Textbook name came about when Jonathan was tasting his first vintage from barrel. He remembers pulling out the wine with a wine thief 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 had not been 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.”
In 2019, with the business 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 is associated with Mercian, a Kirin subsidiary that owns wineries in Japan, France, and Markham Vineyards in the Napa Valley. Jonathan remains active in Textbook overseeing winemaking, vineyard sources, and participating in select marketing events. Abigail Horstman is the winemaker.
Textbook Mise-En-Place Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville, Napa Valley 2022 is very well-behaved Napa cab that presents elegance, balance, polish. Dark fruits, fine-grained tannins. Mostly cab with 8% merlot to soften the edges. Will age but easily can be enjoyed now with decanting. $70-90
Pairing—Fattier beef cuts, grilled ribeye, New York strip; slow-cooked, braised short ribs. Grilled lamb chops seasoned with rosemary, garlic, thyme; roasted leg of lamb; lamb burgers with aged cheddar and sautéed mushrooms. Grilled portobello mushrooms, baked eggplant parmesan, mushroom risotto; lentil-based hearty stews, lentil-mushroom burgers, braised lentils with roasted vegetables. Cheese—Aged cheddar is classic; Vermont Cabot Clothbound Cheddar; Beemster 18-Month Aged Gouda; smoke gouda, manchego, pecorino, aged parmigiano-reggiano, gorgonzola dolce.
