Nose
Opaque purple in color, this wine presents ripe cherry and cassis fruits, pipe tobacco, and sweet exotic spice notes.
Palate
Precisely balanced on the palate, giving freshness and vibrancy to the ripe fruit flavors, it is silken in texture but tightly woven with a long, rich finish.
Growing Conditions
Missouri Hopper, one of Napa’s oldest vineyards, consists of 45 contiguous acres on the famed Oakville Bench in the Napa Valley. Purchased by Charles Hopper and given to his daughter Missouri in 1877, today Missouri Hopper is owned by the Beckstoffer family, and the fruit from this vineyard is some of the most sought after in the Napa Valley. Wines from the Missouri Hopper Vineyard consistently display the complex profile of power with refinement that is a hallmark of the celebrated Oakville Bench appellation.
2014 was an excellent vintage for Napa winemaking, the third consecutive such vintage, following the stunning successes of both 2012 and 2013. Despite a regional drought, significant rains in February and March gave the vineyards a healthy soaking, and set up the vines for early budbreak. A mild spring and “perfect” summer temperatures brought grapes to optimum ripeness before an early harvest. The resulting wines show intense aromatics and complex fruit character.
Winemaking
This 2014 Amici Cellars Missouri Hopper Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a complex and elegant wine showcasing the hallmarks of the famed valley-floor vineyard in the Oakville appellation. This wine is lovely on release but can be cellared for 10-15 years.
Aging
95% stainless steel, 5% barrel fermented. Aged 22 months in 100% new French oak barrels.
