The wine has aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, plum and earth. The finest French oak also gives off notes of cedar, anise, vanilla, nutmeg and clove. This rich and full-bodied wine has well-balanced acidity, berry and cherry aromas, firm tannins and a long finish. 2013 was another drought year, resulting in a warmer vintage than usual. Bud break and flowering were early. The drought also controlled the vine vigour, resulting in lighter bunches and smaller berries. This wine is made from only the finest grapes from special plots. Vine Cliff's estate Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards are located in the Oakville AVA, east of the Silverado Trail. The vineyard consists of 14 different plots, some of which are terraced on steep slopes, and others that are flat and have the same red gravel soil as the Oakville Bench. Five Cabernet Sauvignon clones are planted, giving each a unique aromatic profile. The steep slopes allow the vines to grow deep roots in search of nutrients and water, and to absorb minerals from the soil. This results in controlled yields and small bunches of grapes, which give the wine a concentrated and unique aroma. When the grapes reach their peak of flavor and ripeness, they are hand-picked early in the morning. At the winery, the grapes are carefully double-pickled by machine to remove the stems and damaged berries. The grapes from each vineyard are separated and de-stemmed, then placed in small stainless steel fermentation tanks. They are then cold-soaked for 3-4 days before the juice warms up and fermentation begins. The smaller berries in 2013 allowed for a wealth of color, flavor, and tannins to be extracted from the juice. Once flavor and color were balanced, the free-run wines were carefully de-vine and aged separately in specially selected Chateau-style French oak barrels. In the spring, the young wines were carefully blended to create a special wine, which was then aged for another year to add oak aromas and complexity. The 2013 private stock was finally blended as 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Sweeney family inherited a winery founded in 1871, and is a boutique family-run winery. Through epidemics and unknown tragedies, the winery apparently disappeared at the dawn of the 20th century, only to rise like a phoenix a decade later as a remarkable winery once again. Today, Vine Cliff continues to produce high-quality wines that reflect their dedication and effort, carefully cultivating grapes from germination to harvest, and brewing quality-oriented wines using custom-made state-of-the-art equipment. Located next to a winery famous for cult wines, Vine Cliff's wines have been sold at Napa Valley Wine Auctions for prices higher than those of the cult wines. Highly praised by wine critics, Vine Cliff's Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon and Los Carneros Chardonnay have been selected as first-class wines by a certain Japanese airline. Owner Chuck Sweeney started out in the hotel business, and later achieved the American dream, becoming known as the hotel king of America. He has also been active in Japan for many years in the real estate investment business, and is a great Japanophile. Currently, the winery is run by Tom Montgomery, the winemaker, who does everything from cultivating the fields to bottling the wines, and he pours his love and passion into the wines he produces. Also, taking into consideration the fact that most wines sold in the United States are drunk on the day they are purchased, Vine Cliff has been researching and practicing how to soften the tannins in wine since the early 2000s. They control the amount of irrigation water based on the root length and vigor of each vine, and adjust the fermentation temperature and period, which are mind-boggling tasks. Vine Cliff takes pride in producing high-quality wines that combine the characteristics and mysterious charm of the land. Recent varietals include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay, and Vine Cliff owns vineyards in Oakville, Carneros, Calistoga, and Howell Mountain. In 2014, they opened a tasting room along Route 29 in Napa.