2012 Fantesca Estate & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon

Fantesca Estate & Winery was started in 2004 when Duane and Susan Hoff bought 53 acres with 10 acres of vineyards. The property had once been part of the Charles Krug estate and today the winery is on Spring Mountain Road in St. Helena. Fantesca, which was named after a character in traditional Italian pantomime productions, makes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, estate Cabernet Sauvignon and blends. Heidi Barrett is winemaker.

Spring Mountain AVA is above the town of St. Helena on the eastern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains. There is no actual Spring Mountain, but the name has traditionally been used for the area, which includes many streams and springs. Spring Mountain was awarded appellation status in 1993 and it includes about 1,000 vineyard acres. Vineyard elevations are high, from 400 to 2,600 feet above sea level. Because of the altitude of most vineyards, which are above the fog line, mornings become warm earlier than vineyards on the valley floor, though the afternoons are cooled by maritime winds. The result is an exceptionally long growing season. Cabernet Sauvignon is the most frequently planted grape by acreage, followed by Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay.

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.