By Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
2012 Cellarius Series I Valley Floor

Background
Andreas Cellarius was a 17th-century German scholar and mapmaker. His 1661 text, the Harmonia Macrocosmica, illustrated the theories and philosophies on the science of stellar and planetary movement that were debated during the Renaissance period. Stag's Leap Wine Cellars owns a set of nine of the engravings. Highly detailed, the artist created works that manage to be both precise in their presentation of the theories of the day and strikingly beautiful. The Cellarius Series pays tribute to Andreas Cellarius by seeking to map Napa Valley throughout three unique perspectives on a winemaking theme, and features a different engraving each vintage. In 2012, our winemaking team explored the diverse elevation levels of vineyards in Napa Valley. These wines are 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, and each comes from a vineyard with significantly different elevation levels - valley floor, hillside, and mountain. The 2012 labels feature Cellarius' Plate 2, which illustrates the scenography of the Ptolemic cosmography.

Source
The 2012 Cellarius Series I is crafted from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, primarily from the valley floor in St. Helena from a vineyard that is farmed and owned by the Battuello family, long-time Napa Valley grape growers. The soils here are Bale clay loam and Perkins gravelly loam. These soils are deep and well-drained river terraces deposited by the Napa River. The soils result in grapes with firm tannins, but the wines are balanced with generous red and black fruit character.

Vineyard Details
Location: St. Helena
Soil: Bale clay loam and Perkins gravelly loam
Rainfall: 39 inches
Harvest Dates: September 21 - October 4, 2012

Wine Details
Winemaker: Marcus Notaro
Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Aging: 21 months in 100% new French oak
Acid: 0.53 g/100 mL
pH: 3.81
Release Date: March 2016

Tasting Notes
This Cabernet Sauvignon offers generous aromas and flavors of black cherry, crushed berries, cola, and hints of cinnamon spice. The wine has round, sweet tannins and a long, silky finish. Of the three wines in the Cellarius Series, this one is the softest and most approachable. Try serving this wine with grilled pork tenderloin, duck confit, or grilled Portobello mushrooms tossed in olive oil with fresh rosemary.
[Information provided by Stag's Leap Wine Cellars]