MMV Cabernet Sauvignon

For over thirty years, Barnett Vineyards has been synonymous with Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2005, they acquired a two-acre vineyard on the Silverado Trail, Cyrus Ryan (3939), whose low-yielding valley floor fruit produced a beautifully expressive wine on its own. While compelling as a standalone bottling, it revealed the potential for greater structure and complexity. This led to the creation of MMV, Mountain Meets Valley, bringing together valley floor richness with mountain-grown backbone. The first vintage was released in 2016.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon - 22% 3939 Calistoga, 22% Castellucci Vineyard, both Valley floor 56% Spring Mountain District (York Creek Vineyard).

The maceration time for the valley floor fruit was longer than for the mountain due to the lower juice to skin ratio of mountain fruit. Many tasting trials occurred to decide what mountain wine to blend into the valley floor fruit. For 2021 two of the top lots were chosen vs just one. All the wine was aged in French oak for 22 months in our climate-controlled caves.

The 2021 MMV has a beautiful dark hue to the core and rim. The valley floor fraction has the immediate aromatics of blueberry pie and blackberry jam. Underneath the big fruit is some pleasant anise, fresh pepper, and flint minerality. The mouthfeel is rich and full with plenty more ripe berry fruit. Elements of cedar, blackcurrant and a range of spices also emerge. The tannins are softer this year, moderated by the big fruit. This is a beautiful wine already and will age nicely over the next 10-11 years (2033-2034).