After twenty-five years as premium Napa Valley grape growers, the Ehrlich family is proud to release its inaugural vintage of their very own Cabernet Sauvignon under the Ehrlich Vineyard label, produced entirely from select lots of estate grown fruit under the watchful care of consulting winemaker Paul Hobbs.
“The release of the 2021 Ehrlich Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is the culmination of a dream my parents Cliff and Patricia had almost fifty years ago when they first visited and fell in love with the Napa Valley,” said Susan Ehrlich, general manager and 2nd generation grape grower. “We’ve been tending the family vineyard for twenty-five years, learning its nuances and unlocking its potential. With this knowledge and experience, my parents, my brothers and I decided the time is right to produce a wine under the family name.”
The 2021 Ehrlich Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a limited release wine with only 250 cases produced and a suggested retail price of $110. The wine offers lovely aromas of blueberry and raspberry compote on the nose, accompanied by warm spice, cedar, and graphite notes on the palate. It’s beautifully balanced and well-structured, with a long, enjoyable finish.
While most of the wine will be sold direct-to-consumer, the wines will be found in select fine wine shops and restaurants. Luxury Napa Cabernet enthusiasts are invited to sign up here for an allocation of the inaugural vintage which then allows for purchase of a 3, 6, 9, or 12 pack.
“I’ve known Cliff Ehrlich for several years and when the family invited me to come see the vineyard and consider consulting on their first wine under their own label, I was excited to explore the potential,” said Hobbs. “The Ehrlich vineyard is a gem in the heart of Oakville. I agreed to work with the family because the site, soil, and fruit have proven to be truly exceptional for crafting a single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.”
Founded in 1998, Ehrlich Vineyard is a ten and one-half acre, family-owned estate in the heart of Oakville and is tended by the Ehrlich family with the notion that great wines begin in the vineyard. The vineyard is located on the valley floor of the Oakville AVA, just off Money Road. It has seven planted acres comprised of three distinct blocks planted to Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Block B (two acres, planted 2005) and Block C (two acres, planted 2017) are situated at the northern end of the property and are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2021 vintage Cabernet Sauvignon is from Block C.
The Ehrlich family has created a reputation for consistently delivering fruit of the highest quality to some of Napa’s most prestigious wineries, and has been supplying grapes to top producers for twenty-five years, including B Cellars, Accendo Cellars, Groth and Duckhorn. In recent years, both B Cellars and Trois Noix have made Ehrlich Vineyard single vineyard wines.
Photos courtesy of the Ehrlich family