Simon Family Estate Reserve
Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage:
- 2023
Appelation:
- Oakville, Coombsville
Aging:
- 20 months in 70% new French oak
Variety:
- 90% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 10% Cabernet Franc
Production:
- 440 Cases
Story
The 2023 Simon Family Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon represents the pinnacle of our winemaking program and an uncompromising commitment to quality. Crafted from some of Napa Valley’s most exceptional vineyard sites, the reserve is produced only when both vintage and fruit meet the highest standards.
Drawn from a heritage collection of vineyard sites, including Vine Hill Ranch, Tench Vineyard, and Collinetta Vineyard, the 2023 Reserve is built from the finest blocks and barrels of the vintage.
Tasting Notes
Fruit from the eastern and western slopes is blended with precision, each vineyard lending its own voice to a Cabernet Sauvignon of remarkable depth, harmony, and balance. Captivating aromas of blackberry compote, violets and graphite complement the palate with layers of dark plum, cassis and espresso bean. Fine-grained tannins provide structure while maintaining a seamless, velvety texture that carries through a beautiful, long finish. Both powerful and refined, this Reserve is built for immediate enjoyment and decades of graceful aging.
Released August 2026
“Full-bodied, with a focused, precise, pure mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, integrated acidity, and a blockbuster finish that won’t quit… it has incredible depth and a multi-dimensional, seamless profile…”
“The aromatics lift effortlessly from the glass, offering pure black-cherry and blackberry fruit, cool Oakville sagebrush, and elegant cedarwood, all backed by ironstone and graphite.”
Yet again, this Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon stands shoulder to shoulder with Harlan, Futo, Opus One, and Dalla Valle. Crafted by Maayan Koschitzky, it combines fruit from Vine Hill Ranch, Tench, Collinetta (Coombsville), Beckstoffer George III, and Sleeping Lady, and is aged for 20 months in 77% new French oak. The colour is inky crimson. The aromatics lift effortlessly from the glass, offering pure black-cherry and blackberry fruit, cool Oakville sagebrush, and elegant cedarwood, all backed by ironstone and graphite. That rich fruit drives a full-bodied palate with a crème de cassis character and supple tannins. Loads of oak spice redolent of ground espresso-bean fuel tine finish, layered with blue fruit, dark chocolate, black sea salt, and juicy blood-orange acidity.
An east-meets-west styled effort based on a blend of Vine Hill Ranch on the western side of the valley and Tench on the eastern side, with some Collinetta in the mix, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is dense, saturated purple hue and leads with lead pencil, crème de cassis, spring flowers, graphite, peppery herbs, and violet-driven aromatics. It picks up more cedar pencil nuances with air and is full-bodied, with a focused, precise, pure mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, integrated acidity, and a blockbuster finish that won’t quit. Based on 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc, aged 22 months in barrels, it has incredible depth and a multi-dimensional, seamless profile that will reward serious patience. It will age for 50 years or more. Drink 2030-2080.
“Lastly, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a powerhouse that defies the vintage. Based on 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the Tench, Vine Hill Ranch, Georges III, Upper Range, and Sleeping Lady vineyards (a Who’s Who list of top vineyards), it reveals a dense purple hue as well as spectacular notes of crème de cassis, tobacco smoke, chocolate, and graphite. Full-bodied on the palate, it has a concentrated, layered mouthfeel, sweet yet building tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. It’s one of the most concentrated, impressive wines in the vintage.”
“How do you craft an Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon that competes with Harlan, Futo, Opus One, and Dalla Valle? With the powers that be, who leverages the best To Kalon Vineyard fruit? This is… winemaker Maayan Koschitzky’s answer to that question. He blended grapes from two benchmark sites in the Oakville appellation — Vine Hill Ranch on the western Mayacamas foothills and Tench on steeper west-facing slopes of the Vaca range. Lovely and classic Oakville nose of pure black fruit, graphite, cassis, and sagebrush notes framed by elegant cedarwood. Full-bodied and layered with spiced plums, blackberry, and crunchy black cherry fruits framed by superfine-grained tannins perfectly sculpted and underscored by wet stone mineral and graphite. A spine of crisp, fine-boned acidity delivers a refreshing finish of blood orange and spring flowers. A complete wine that is seamless. Native yeast in stainless steel with 30 days on the skins.”
“Blended from lots sourced from Tench and Vine Hill Ranch, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is an incredible wine, packing huge volumes of black cherries and vanilla into a full-bodied wine that’s… incredibly rich, plush and creamy. It’s concentrated and tannic without any heaviness and features a long, elegant finish. Combining great sourcing and thoughtful winemaking backed by the latest technology, it’s a super combination and a thrilling wine.”
“All from Oakville (Tench and Vine Hill Ranch), the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve spent 22 months in new French oak. Pure cassis, darker currants, spring flowers, graphite, and lead pencil are… just some of the nuances here, and it’s medium to full-bodied, concentrated, has integrated acidity, and enough tannins to warrant at least 4-5 years in the cellar. It will keep for 30+ years.”
“A barrel selection that received a bit more time in French oak (21 months in 100% new wood), the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is derived primarily from Tench Vineyard and Vine Hill Ranch.… It comes across as more primary than the winery’s other bottlings, with cedar and vanilla shadings framing black cherries and loam on the nose. In the mouth, it’s full-bodied, concentrated and richly tannic yet supple, finishing long and velvety, with an enticing touch of licorice and a coating of soft tannins.”
