2015 Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Cabernet Sauvignon

About the Wine

The 2015 vintage was defined as the height of the drought in Napa Valley. The vines were under tremendous stress with a warm, long growing season and very limited access to water. These drought conditions led to small berries, tight clusters and tremendous concentration. Unfortunately these conditions also led to significantly lower yields.

The Kayli Morgan Vineyard is located just north of Saint Helena, California at the base of Howell Mountain. The soils are a dark clay; holding moisture to keep the vines cool. As summer progresses, the ground forms micro-cracks, allowing the roots to seek water deeper and deeper into the earth; as they do, they pick up minerals that give Kayli Morgan its distinctive characteristics. Kayli Morgan is a single estate vineyard and 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Reviews

Visiting with Hundred Acre’s contrarian proprietor, the bigger-than-life, outspoken and suffers-no-fools Jayson Woodbridge, is always a highlight. First of all, and most importantly, is his commitment to producing great wines. At the same time, he is turning out attractive, consumer-friendly Pinot Noirs. Then there are his inexpensive Layer Cake wines, showing that his portfolio covers the values as well. But what follows is a look at his top-of-the-line wines from the 15-acre Kayli Morgan Vineyard east of St. Helena, his 15-acre Howell Mountain Ark Vineyard and a spectacular site adjacent to the Eisele Vineyard south of Calistoga called Few and Far Between. His first vintage was the 2000 Kayli Morgan. At that time he was using consultant Philippe Melka, but he has been on his own for a number of years and the wine quality continues to be among the most singular and profound in all of Napa Valley. His outspoken personality doesn’t often sit well in conservative and quiet Napa, but he only needs to let his wines do the talking. Little else needs to be said or done. 100pts ~WA