Winemaker Notes
This wine is getting quite a bit of talk around the valley and far beyond as it is the only Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon made from estate vineyards on Mount Veeder, Howell Mountain and Oakville. Yes, these are the same vineyards we use for our Howell Mountain and Mount Veeder bottlings. The Oakville vineyard resides between our esteemed neighbors on the Oakville Cross Road and has been given a lot of time and attention by Sean and the team over the last several years to truly maximize this site. Our Napa Cabernet is often taken home by the staff and is currently a favorite of Betty and Paul's. They particularly enjoy it with a couple additional years of cellaring.
This is a classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with an opaque purple color and perfumed aromas of blackberry compote, orange blossom, cassis, creme brulee, and cocoa. On the palate the wine is plush and concentrated with well-integrated tannins and a vibrant finish. Lush enough to be consumed now and structured enough to hold for decades thanks to the mountain heritage of this beautiful wine.
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points
Decanter 97 Points
Robert Parker 94 Points
James Suckling 94 Points
Betty O’Shaughnessy Woolls & Paul Woolls
Proprietors
Betty hails from Minnesota, having spent her childhood growing up in a rural farming community. After college, she raised a family while building a career in real estate investment/development in Minneapolis. Her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for food and wine fueled the fires that transitioned her from owner/teacher of a cooking school in Minneapolis, to creating a winery in Napa Valley.
In Napa, Betty fell in love with the beauty of the land, the vineyards, and the climate. In 1990, she landed in Oakville with a parcel of land, including vineyards and a home site. Betty reconnected with her deep-rooted appreciation of the soil and the bounties it brings. Over the next few years, additional vineyards on Howell Mountain and Mount Veeder added to the source available for varieties of grapes. The new century brought a cave, grapes crushed into wine and a design for a winery structure. The project completed in time for the harvest of 2003.
In addition to the winery, Betty remains an active volunteer and philanthropist in the community. In 2009, her community involvement expanded to include an exciting new role as Trustee for Napa's Queen of the Valley Medical Center.
Paul, too, began life in the Midwest. Born almost on the campus of Indiana University, he later moved to New Mexico. He now sheepishly admits it was there he developed the beginnings of a passion for wine, albeit on brands that today no serious vigneron would admit consuming. From those beginnings, Paul found in college that starving for a month would allow for one great meal at the only French restaurant nearby. Then law school and his practice allowed the drive to learn about wine to thrive. That drive culminated in a fortuitous wine tasting where he met Betty.
Together, they now share a challenging goal of making the best possible wine from the exceptional vineyards they steward. Likewise, they are most fortunate to enjoy family life provided by numerous children (all girls) and even more grandchildren (mostly boys). Betty and Paul continue life’s joyous ride as companions, partners, and winemaking buddies in the O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery.
