2018 One Acre Cabernet Sauvignon, Lamm Vineyard – Strong and Bold
The Winery
“One Acre, One Guy, One Wine” slogan is the quintessential meaning behind their wines and success. It started in 2002 with Dave Becker, who founded the One Acre label with just one acre of Cabernet Sauvignon planted at his family home in the Oak Knoll region of the Napa Valley. The success of One Acre led to the launch of Acre Wines, a portfolio of classic wines from sustainably farmed, family-owned estate vineyards in Napa Valley.
Industry veterans, Mike and Talley Henry purchased the winery in 2017. Together, with well-known consulting winemaker Richard Bruno, they continue to carry on the One Acre and Acre Wines legacy that Dave created nearly two decades ago. Today, the One Acre portfolio includes an Oak Knoll Cabernet sourced from Dave’s original one acre vineyard, and a Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon, planted on one acre with identical clones, varietal, spacing and row orientation as the Oak Knoll Cabernet to be able to understand and appreciate the differences of “terroir”. The highly acclaimed Acre portfolio includes a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc sourced from family-owned vineyards within the stellar AVA’s of Oakville, Yountville, Calistoga, and Stags Leap.
The Wine – 2018 One Acre Cabernet Sauvignon, Lamm Vineyard Yountville (Napa Valley)
The wine on the eyes was a deep royal purple with red hues and a medium heavy viscosity. Looking into the glass ones expectations immediately rose knowing a treat was beckoning. On the nose one of the most fruit forward Cabernet Sauvignon’s with blackberry and raspberry and violets. Once on the palate, plum and oak spices along with an earthly minerality to counterbalance the fruit. An odd but delightful bitter/sweet cranberry flavor came through on the palate. This wine as opposed to their “soft and gentler” One Acre Oak Knoll Cabernet Sauvignon, provided a mouthful of flavors and edgy tannins. This is more of a “classic Napa Valley Cabernet”. The convenience of having both the Lamm Vineyard (Yountville) versus the Porchview Vineyard (Oak Knoll) is that the consumer can select which is more pleasing to their taste profile.
I believe this release will be out in 2023. The current release is the 2016 One Acre from Lamm Vineyard in Yountville and goes for $90/bottle. Generally speaking the wines are aged 33 months in French oak with a third being new. The 2018 One Acre, made my Best Wines Tasted of the Year (2022) with the list coming out this week.
The Food & Wine Pairing
Pulled this bottle to review from the cellar last evening as it was going to be paired with a Skirt Steak Marinade dish. The Skirt Steak was marinating about 8 hours in balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, olive oil and salt/pepper. With the wine being bold of strength and character, it easily paired with the meat. Accompanied by cheese tortellini, asparagus and a fresh garden salad it made a wonderful meal and wine pairing.
Sláinte,
Michael
California Wines & Wineries 