2016 Hundred Acre Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Wraith

The 2016 Hundred Acre Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon WRAITH is one of Napa Valley’s most coveted cult wines, a powerful yet finely detailed expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from some of the region’s most treasured sites. Crafted in tiny quantities, WRAITH is a barrel selection drawn from Hundred Acre’s trio of grand cru–level vineyards, capturing the essence of the estate in a single, monumental bottling. The 2016 vintage in Napa is widely regarded as exceptional, and this wine has already earned a place among the modern greats of California Cabernet.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2016 WRAITH is opaque and inky, with a deep purple-black core and a narrow, vibrant rim hinting at its youthful energy despite its age. The nose is intense and layered, offering waves of blackcurrant, ripe blackberry and blueberry compote, framed by dark chocolate, graphite, warm cedar, espresso and a subtle exotic spice character. Hints of violet, dried rose petal and crushed rock add lift and complexity as it opens. On the palate, this is a full-bodied, richly textured Cabernet with a seamless, almost velvety mouthfeel. Concentrated black fruit—cassis, black cherry and plum—unfolds alongside cocoa nibs, licorice, tobacco leaf and sweet baking spices from luxurious French oak. The tannins are fine-grained but powerful, giving the wine structure and drive without any harsh edges, while the acidity keeps everything vibrant and precise. The finish is extraordinarily long, echoing dark fruit, spice and mineral notes for well over a minute. Still on the ascent, this 2016 has significant aging potential: it can be enjoyed now with a long decant, but will reward careful cellaring for 15–25 years or more.

Production
WRAITH is a blend of Hundred Acre’s benchmark single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons from Napa Valley, typically including parcels from the Kayli Morgan Vineyard (Howell Mountain foothills), the ARK Vineyard (east of St. Helena on volcanic, rocky slopes) and the Few and Far Between Vineyard near Calistoga. These sites combine low-yielding vines, poor, well-drained soils and Napa’s warm, sunny days with cool nights, producing intensely flavored yet finely balanced fruit. Grapes are painstakingly hand-harvested in multiple passes at optimal ripeness, then sorted berry by berry to ensure only pristine fruit makes it into the cellar. Winemaker Jayson Woodbridge ferments in small lots, often using extended maceration to extract color, flavor and tannin with great precision. The wine is then aged in 100% new, top-quality French oak barrels for an extended period (often close to 30 months), bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve texture and purity, and released only when deemed ready.

Food & Serving
The 2016 Hundred Acre WRAITH is a commanding wine best paired with richly flavored, protein-driven dishes. Think dry-aged ribeye, grilled lamb chops with rosemary, slow-braised short ribs, venison, or Wagyu beef. It also works beautifully with truffle-infused dishes, porcini risotto, or hard, aged cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano or aged Gouda. Serve at 16–18°C (60–65°F) to showcase its depth without emphasizing alcohol or oak. For bottles opened in the near term, decant generously—at least 2–3 hours—to allow the aromatics and structure to fully unfold; older cellared bottles (15+ years) may need a gentler, shorter decant to avoid disturbing sediment.

Producer
Hundred Acre, founded by winemaker-proprietor Jayson Woodbridge, has become one of Napa Valley’s quintessential cult producers, known for ultra-meticulous viticulture, lavish yet precise winemaking and consistently high critical acclaim. The estate focuses primarily on Cabernet Sauvignon from a handful of obsessively farmed vineyards that many consider among the finest sites in Napa. Since the early 2000s, Hundred Acre wines have regularly garnered top scores from major critics, cementing the winery’s reputation for producing some of the most opulent yet impeccably crafted Cabernets in California. WRAITH, as the selection drawn from its elite vineyards, represents the pinnacle of the Hundred Acre style and its significant influence on the region’s modern luxury wine landscape.

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