2021 Hourglass ‘Blueline Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon

JD93-95 There are just 30 barrels of the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Blueline Estate, a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 8% Malbec, and the rest Cabernet Franc. It’s a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, yet elegant 2021 with ripe blue fruits, some violet, leather, and herbal nuances, fine tannins, and a vibrant, focused, classic style that’s going to age gracefully.
Estate Notes: The 2021 Blueline Cabernet toes the perfect line of elegance, brightness, and power, showcasing Tony’s ongoing mastery of the art of blending. Initial aromatics of ground coffee, wet gravel, forest ferns and barrel toast meld seamlessly into dramatic red and dark fruit tones. Dark sour cherry, red plum, pomegranate and blackberry translate powerfully from nose to palate. Rich, silky tannins are deflty countered with a tensional energy of mouthwatering natural acidity and the trademark Blueline minerality.

Hourglass Wine produced their first vintage in 1997 and for many years their entire production was from the single 4 acre Hourglass Vineyard just north of St. Helena. Today they own two vineyards – the original estate Hourglass Vineyard (purchased in 1975) and the Blueline Vineyard in the Calistoga sub appellation (purchased in 2006).

Tony Biagi is a veteran Napa Valley winemaker with extensive experience at some of the Valley’s elite wineries, including Duckhorn, Paraduxx, Plumpjack, and Cade, of which he was Founding Winemaker, and now Hourglass.

The newest acquisition is the 20-acre Blue Line Vineyard located on a 40-acre piece of property along the Silverado Trail south of Calistoga. Jeff spent several years looking for a second vineyard to complement their Hourglass vineyard and at one point called off his search as it was becoming too difficult to find a desired piece of property. One day he saw property for sale while making a drive to the nearby dump. He stopped and walked the land – and realized this would be an excellent addition to their vineyard portfolio. Similar to the Hourglass Vineyard the Blueline Vineyard is mineral rich but nutrient poor.
This vineyard is planted to five Bordeaux red varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petite Verdot and Malbec.

A visit to the Blueline Vineyard and cave is for serious wine enthusiasts and mailing list customers. A small cave grotto located with the primary cave serves as an impressive tasting room – with a small Swarovski crystal chandelier overhanging complemented by a comfortable couch and several chairs. It can be easy to whittle away a few hours in this part of the cave with excellent wine and conversation.