Simon Family Estate Reserve
Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage:
- 2022
Appelation:
- Oakville, Rutherford,
- Yountville
Aging:
- 22 months in 80% new
- french oak
Variety:
- 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Production:
- 320 Cases
Story
The 2022 Simon Family Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon represents the finest expression of our craft. As the flagship of our portfolio, this wine is made from a meticulous barrel selection sourced from iconic vineyards including Tench, Vine Hill Ranch, Beckstoffer Georges III, and Sleeping Lady. Produced only when both the fruit and vintage rise to extraordinary levels, it embodies our unwavering commitment to quality and distinction.
Tasting Notes
On the nose, the wine is profoundly aromatic, unveiling layers of spiced Christmas cake, cherry cordial, and Earl Grey tea, interwoven with nuances of fragrant earth, dried rose petals, and classic cigar box. The palate is structured yet refined, with dense, chewy tannins that provide a sense of gravitas without overshadowing the wine’s elegance. The finish is remarkably long and savory, marked by lingering notes of dark fruit, exotic spice, and crushed stone.
This 2022 Reserve bottling is a testament to both place and precision—an age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon that marries power with poise.
Released August 2025
“It’s one of the most concentrated, impressive wines in the vintage.”
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.”
