The deep garnet color of the 2017 Wraith begins with aromas of spices such as cumin, clove, cinnamon, and fenugreek, which then move to firm yet subtle aromas of iron ore and red roses, with prunes, blueberry pie, and black currant syrup. The wine is rich and full-bodied, with layers of red fruit nuances and a surprisingly elegant and graceful structure. It has silky smooth tannins, a seamless freshness, and a firework-like finish. The three great single vineyards are in perfect harmony, and they tell the story of the great vintage in which the grapes were grown. Wraith is such a wine. All of the grapes from our own vineyards are not harvested until they are fully ripe. Of course, not all the grapes are fully ripe at the same time, so we look at each bunch and make a judgment, and harvest in multiple batches. Attention to detail is very important, and this is where Hundred Acres' skills shine. 2017 was a vintage that combined the magical 2013 and 2016 vintages into one. The grapes were harvested in perfect weather and stored in cellars surrounded by huge stones that allowed the air outside to be purified, so the fruit was not affected by the wildfires. Some staff members evacuated from their homes, but they were able to come to harvest and vinify. Hundred Acres winery is located deep in the mountains, so the wildfires did not come close to us and we were able to keep it safe. Aged 40 months in the finest French oak barrels. The staves we use are carefully selected for their densest grain and are dried for three years before being made into barrels.
Owner/Winemaker: Jason Woodbridge Hundred Acres is a boutique winery in Napa Valley that was founded in 1998 (at the age of 36) by Jason Woodbridge, who made a fortune at a young age while working in investment banking. Jason has established a "0 or 100" policy, firmly believing that "if it's not of the highest quality, there's no point in doing it," and produces the "perfect" Cabernet Sauvignon without any compromise. Hundred Acres is not a wine made by striving for "perfection," but a wine brewed with the utmost care, with "perfection" being the fundamental premise.
This is a Lutra Premium wine. The grapes from each vineyard are harvested by hand in batches according to the aging process. After harvest, the grapes are thoroughly hand-selected and separated by harvest time, plot, and vineyard, and then fermented, pressed, and aged separately. The French oak used at Hundred Acres is only fine-grained wood from specific forests, and only high-spec barrels that are naturally dried for at least three years and then toasted are used. All wines are aged for at least 30 months, and only those that Jason considers to be complete are bottled and released. Of course, wines that are not "perfect" are not released in the first place.