2013 Elyse Holbrook Mitchell Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.5ltr

Elyse is a Napa Valley winery founded in 1987 by Ray and Nancy Coursen. Ray grew up on a New Jersey dairy farm and attended agricultural college before moving to the Napa Valley to pursue winemaking. Nancy is a third-generation Californian who met Ray and joined him in establishing their own winery. Ray worked for several Napa producers before starting his own label, which is named after the couple’s daughter. The Coursens source grapes from Napa Valley growers. In 1998 they started a second label, Jacob Franklin, named for their son. Robert M. Parker Jr. notes that "these wines are at least very good, and often outstanding, as Coursen knows how to coax high quality out of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Cabernet Sauvignon..."

Yountville AVA is just west of Stags Leap and north of Oak Knoll. It is centered around the town of Yountville, named for George Yountville, who planted the area’s first vineyard in 1836. The district received appellation status in 1999 and it includes 4,000 vineyard acres. It is known for tannic Cabernet Sauvignon that has a reputation for aging well. Dominus Estate, formerly Napanook Vineyard, is one of the most prestigious producers in Yountville, and in all of Napa Valley.

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.