Zeitgeist The Grove Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Zeitgeist The Grove Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
97 pts Dunnuck
Jumping up in price (but I’d say still a relative value), the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon The Grove comes all from the Lewelling Vineyard outside of St. Helena and was raised in 75% new barrels. Ripe blackberries, currants, toasted spices, chocolate, and even some roasted herb nuances all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with a full-bodied, deep, expansive, layered mouthfeel. It’s beautifully balanced and shows the more sexy, exuberant style of this vineyard perfectly. Drink bottles over the coming 15+ years.
Published December 26, 2023
Zeitgeist's "The Grove" comes from Clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon vines in western Saint Helena from a small old vine section within the larger Lewelling Vineyard. The trellising here is a unique blend of VSP (vertical shoot positioning) and head trained vines positioned straight up and on a wire instead of dangling about like California sprawl. This allows the grape bunches to be in different parts of the ripening zone so the fruit sets and ripens differently through harvest, ultimately imparting more complex flavor nuances to the fruit.
Production Size: Extremely limited (often only 2 to 5 barrels produced per vintage)
About
ZEITGEIST (tsit-gist) is a philosophical term meaning the spirit of the times. Coined by the German Romanticists, it describes the cultural, ethical, and spiritual mood of an era. For Zeitgeist Cellars, wine is a reflection of a unique place, moment, and culture. Each bottling is crafted to capture the character of the vintage while expressing the winery's shared philosophies of viticulture and winemaking. Every bottle opened around the dinner table becomes part of a conversation, contributing to the collective spirit—the zeitgeist—of its time.
The Grove is one of the signature Cabernet Sauvignons from Zeitgeist Cellars, the boutique Napa Valley project of husband-and-wife winemakers Mark Porembski and Jennifer Williams. Named for the historic olive grove that borders this special section of the renowned Lewelling Vineyard, the wine reflects a site the couple has sourced from since founding Zeitgeist in 2014.
Guided by the pursuit of exceptional wines at fair prices, Zeitgeist Cellars takes a hands-on, meticulous approach at every stage of production. The winery partners with a select group of outstanding vineyards, carefully sorts fruit at harvest, and bottles only the finest barrels. With an emphasis on thoughtful farming, restrained winemaking, and minimal intervention, every small-lot wine is crafted, fermented, and aged with precision and care. The result is a focused portfolio of beautifully expressive heritage white varieties alongside a collection of elegant, site-driven Cabernet Sauvignons that faithfully reflect both vineyard and vintage.
The Vineyard: The Lewelling Ranch
Along the western hills in St. Helena, lies an incredible patch of dirt for growing Cabernet. This neighborhood has many well-known Cabernet vineyards, and at the heart of it lies Lewelling Ranch. Located just at the base of the Mayacamas range this vineyard sits in an ancient alluvial fan. This fan is part of a historic creek bed, with soils consisting of cobble, creek wash and gravelly sand (known as Cortina). This soil is quick to drain enabling natural management of the moisture in the vine’s microclimate. Wines made from this neighborhood tend to be plush, fruit driven and rich.
St. Helena is home to one of the finest alluvial fans in the Napa Valley, and in it lies many famed vineyards. The Lewelling Vineyard may not have the name recognition of Dr. Crane or Madrona Ranch or Spottswoode, but it should. Nestled in the foothills of the Mayacamas mountain range, the Lewelling vineyard is a warm site on soils that would make you squeal with delight if you were into such things (they vary across the ranch but are all weathered loam and gravel).
