What’s Pressoir Drinking? Snowden Vineyards Brothers Vineyard Napa Valley 2016

June 13, 2020
By Edouard Bourgeois

I rarely drink Cabernet Sauvignon. I was reminded that I’ve been making a mistake of overlooking this varietal when I opened a bottle of Snowden Vineyards Brothers Vineyard 2016 last Friday. Sure, the label read 14.8% alcohol, which is much higher than the lighter Pinot Noir I love from Chambolle-Musigny or Volnay. Yet I was really impressed by the elegance and lift this bottle expressed. This is the proof that looking at the alcohol level solely to determine the intensity or power of the wine is far from enough information. The levels of acidity, sugar and tannin, even though not listed on the label, are the key factors to understand to complete the full picture. Don’t get me wrong, it is a powerful wine as it should be being a Napa Cab! But the balance was there. Is that because it is made by Diana Snowden Seysses, the wonderful lady also in charge of winemaking of Domaine Dujac in Burgundy?

Fire up the grill and get that T-Bone going like I did that night. You will be rewarded…