2005 Tournesol Cabernet Sauvignon, 3-bottle Lot, Wood Case

Tournesol is a 15-acre estate in the Coombsville AVA. It is owned by Bob and Anne Arns, who purchased their estate property in 1998. Bob Arns is principal at his San Francisco law firm. The couple was inspired to start their own wine venture by the famous 1976 Judgement of Paris, in which California wines took top honors in a Paris contest of French and California wines. Ken Bernards is winemaker. The estate makes Cabernet Sauvignon and white Bordeaux-style blends.

Atlas Peak AVA is perched above the Stags Leap AVA to the northeast of the city of Napa. Elevation ranges from 760 to 2,600 feet, and temperatures are up to 15 degrees cooler in the Atlas Peak vineyards compared with vineyards in the valley. There are 1,500 vineyard acres planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The appellation was named for Atlas Peak, which, at 2,633 feet above sea level, is the highest peak in the area.

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.