The 2023 Vineyard 36 'Verses' captivates from the very first pour, its deep ruby core rimmed with youthful violet radiance, a striking prelude to its energy and depth. The bouquet is entrancing and endlessly layered, beginning with black cherry, ripe plum, and blueberry preserve, then unfolding violet, cedar, exotic spice, and graphite in seamless succession. With air, delicate nuances of cocoa, tobacco leaf, sage, and mineral flourish emerge, heightening intrigue and complexity. On the palate, the entry is supple and seductive, swiftly gathering precision and gravitas as dark cherry and blackberry anchor the core. The mid-palate blossoms with floral lift, cocoa, and a savory undertow of graphite and herbs, fusing purity of fruit with a vivid sense of place. Silken, fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity provide impeccable balance, privileging grace over power. The finish is long, resonant, and refined, echoing dark fruit, tobacco, subtle oak, and spice. Already spellbinding, 'Verses' is destined for ever greater glory with time.
2023 Verses
Poetry is orchestrated when we acknowledge and understand what makes perfection. A 50/50 blend from Oakville Ranch Vineyard. Cabernet Sauvignon vs. Cabernet Franc.
Exclusivity in every vine grown, in each bottle filled. Handpicked, slow-aged, carefully blended, it is our rarest creation to date. Commemorating the most significant competitors of our time, Verses is about respect; it’s about understanding; it’s about legacy. We reflect our understanding of life on the rink with our ingenuity in winemaking. When two greats collaborate, it generates magic, and it sparks something better than we could have ever imagined proving that your competitive spirit can drive you to new heights beyond belief.
When competition meets collaboration, poetry is orchestrated. Our Verses label commemorates the meticulous skull hand painted onto Cam Ward’s notorious masks and blends its fierce nature with the striking crown Tim Gleason relates to his inaugural NHL season with the LA Kings. Both elements are embedded by vigorous Cabernet Sauvignon vines sprawling across the top of the label, while Cabernet Franc leaves rise from the earth to support this trenchant combination
- Blend51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Cabernet Franc
- WinemakerKeith Emerson
- RegionNapa Valley
- AppellationOakville
- VineyardOakville Ranch
- OakAged 19 months 100% new thin stave, tight grain, French oak
- Harvest Date10/20/2023
- Alcohol14.5%
- PH3.71