Vineyard - Tierra Roja, located on the slope from the Silverado Trail east of Oakville to Pritchard Hill, is home to famous vineyards such as Dalla Valle and Peter Michael's Haut Paradis, and is a very rare and cost-effective AVA wine made from this famous vineyard.
Vintage Information
After some welcome rains in the spring, the summer of 2019 was typically dry and sunny, but stable without any extreme weather or temperature changes, which helped maintain the freshness and quality of the fruit and allowed for long hang time to develop great color, structure and soft tannins.
There was less flowering and fruit set than in 2018, but the bunches were firm and concentrated, making 2019 an outstanding vintage.
Technical information
All of TOR's Cabernet Sauvignon is aged in small tanks for 2-3 weeks, with each lot fermented separately, and then aged for 20 months in new Tarançao and d'Arnajou oak barrels.
Tasting Comments
Characteristic aromas of blackcurrant, damp earth and black cherry characteristic of the finest Oakville Cabernets.
It has a very rich, intense flavor of black fruits and the power and brightness that Oakville brings to the Cabernet.
Hints of bittersweet chocolate, mint, tobacco and espresso are apparent, culminating in a silky smooth, long finish.
15 barrels produced.
Field Information
Tierra Roja Vineyards Map
The 2019 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon is made from grapes from Tierra Roja and Skellinger Vineyards.
Tierra Roja is located in the hills at the end of Oakville Crossroads towards Silverado Trail.
This is a prime location in Oakville, with Maya's Dalla Valle at the top of the slope, Joseph Phelps' Bacchus next door, Ladd across the Silverado Trail, and Screaming Eagle nearby.
It is a jewel of a hillside vineyard measuring just 1.6 hectares.
As an AVA wine surrounded by famous vineyards, this has become a rare and cost-effective wine.
Tierra Roja Vineyards
The fields have red soil (loja in Spanish means red) with large stones scattered throughout.
You might imagine a juicy, rich wine from the volcanic soil, but the wine made from the grapes in this vineyard is closer to Screaming Eagle than to Dalla Valle at the top of the slope, and is dark in color, fragrant, and complex in flavor. Owner-grower Linda Neal has owned the vineyard since 1987 and produces Tierra Roja branded wines (winemaker is Jeff Ames of TOR), but does not currently supply grapes to wineries other than TOR.
Skellinger is located on the valley floor east of the Oakville AVA, bordering Rutherford, and has been supplying Oakville grapes to other wineries for many years, and this year they blended them into TOR Oakville for the first time.
Vintage: 2019
Capacity: 750ml
Type: Red wine
Taste: Full-bodied
Main variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of Origin: America
Region Name: California
AVA: Napa Valley
Nested AVA, Other: Oakville
Vineyards: Tierra Roja, Skellenger Vineyards
Note: Limited stock
Winemaker: Jeff Ames
Vinification: 2-3 weeks maceration
Aging: 20 months in new French barrels (Talenseau & Darnajou)
Cap: Cork
Alcohol content: 15.2%
JAN: None