BACKGROUND:
It is clear, the importance of soils, climate, and elevation are all factors in producing fine wine. But more importantly, it’s about the location, the handler’s skill set, and their desire to expand creative capabilities. This is the core behind all Erikson & Caradin wines.

Their original release was the 2013 vintage, they sold every case to good friends and select restaurants across the country. In 2016 they gained access to more fruit and increased the production from 85 cases to 264 cases – a mere 10 barrels from two distinct sites. Today they make eight different designations but remain craft-focused and only produce a maximum of 50 barrels. Throughout the last 15 years of being rooted in the culture and history of the Napa Valley, their business has always stood for nothing less than exceptional wine and the truest expression of the acclaimed AVA-specific wines.

Erikson & Caradin are wine lovers and collectors, who set out to procure the very best parcels of Cabernet in the most esteemed regions. There is a standard that they intend to exceed. Winemaker, Kevin Morrisey, believes in the opportunity to pause, explore, and discover the most modern and discerning methods to winemaking.

Morrisey started his career Chateau Petrus (yes, THAT Petrus!) before coming to Cali and headed to Domaine Carneros. Later in Tony Soter (Pinot producer extraordinaire) selected this individual to be his head winemaker for Etude! After that stint he made is way over to Stag’s Leap Winery as the head winemaker and is now the winemaker at Ehlers Estates… talk about a prestigious resume!

Winemaker Notes

This is a wine made with the culmination of pedigree and expertise. An evolved nose of spicy black cherries and forest floor accompanies its ruby/garnet color. It is layered and rich with sweet tannin, impressive concentration, and a medium to full-body. The cherries, blackberries, spices and oak will evolve to silky sweetness in years to come.