By Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
Cellarius 2013 Series III - Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP)

Series Background
Andreas Cellarius was a 17th-century German scholar and mapmaker. His 1661 text, the Harmonia Macrocosmica, illustrated the theories and philosophies of the science of stellar and planetary movement that were debated during the Renaissance. Stag's Leap Wine Cellars owns a set of nine of the engravings. Highly detailed, the artist created works that are both precise in their presentation of the theories of the day and strikingly beautiful. The Cellarius Series pays tribute to Andreas Cellarius by mapping Napa Valley through three unique perspectives, featuring a different engraving each vintage. In 2013, our winemaking team explored three different trellising systems in the FAY vineyard. These wines are 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the same vineyard but demonstrate how different trellising systems contribute to the wines' flavors and textures. The 2013 labels feature Cellarius' Plate 5, which illustrates the scenography of the Copernican world system.

Source
Primarily from FAY Blocks 8C2, 8C3, and 8C4, which have traditional cordons with canopy shoots held within trellis wires and oriented in a vertical direction (vertical shoot positioning or VSP). VSP is one of the most common forms of trellising today, as it allows for more direct sun exposure to the fruit, resulting in richer flavors, darker fruit character, and more powerful tannins.

Wine Details
Appellation: Napa Valley
Composition: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Harvest: September 12, 2013
Aging: 21 months in 96% new French oak
Alcohol: 14.50%
Acid: 0.50 g/100 mL
pH: 3.63
Release Date: March 2017

Tasting Notes
This Cabernet Sauvignon has darker fruit and riper flavors than the others in the series. The wine has generous aromas of blackberry, dried herb, black tea, and currant. The wine has a bigger texture, full of dark fruit and hints of oak, leading to a rich finish. Try with grilled rib-eye with roasted mushrooms or tagliatelle with short rib ragu.
[Information provided by Votto Vines]