Festina Lente Cabernet Sauvignon
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 5–20 years from the vintage release, as it possesses the structure and depth to age gracefully.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted rack of lamb, aged hard cheeses
✨ Technical Specifications
Paul Lato’s 'Festina Lente' Cabernet Sauvignon is a masterful expression of Napa Valley, guided by the classical Latin adage meaning 'make haste slowly.' This philosophy perfectly mirrors Lato's patient, non-interventionist approach to winemaking, where nothing is rushed and every detail is meticulously tended to. Sourced from premier vineyard sites within Napa Valley, this wine showcases the classic power and depth of Cabernet Sauvignon, balanced beautifully by Lato's signature elegance, purity of fruit, and refined texture. The grapes undergo careful sorting and gentle fermentation before aging in select French oak barrels. The result is a sophisticated, multi-layered red wine that marries rich dark fruit characteristics with structured, velvety tannins and a seamless, lingering finish.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 2002 by Polish-born former Toronto sommelier Paul Lato, this boutique Central Coast winery emerged after early mentorship from Au Bon Climat's Jim Clendenen and encouragement from Bien Nacido's Bob Miller. Operating without estate acreage, Lato contracts premier, meticulously farmed plots across premier maritime-influenced cool-climate terroirs, spanning the Santa Maria Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Lucia Highlands, and Los Carneros. The viticultural philosophy focuses on rigorous yield restriction, physiological maturity, and sustainable management tailored block by block. In the cellar, Lato applies an intuitive, non-interventionist approach with small-lot fermentations, ambient yeast, and sensitive French oak aging to deliver exceptional textural tension, purity, and culinary balance. Celebrated white cuvées—including the Hyde Vineyard Goldberg Variations Chardonnay, Sierra Madre Kokoro Chardonnay, Le Bon Vivant, and O Sole Mio Sauvignon Blanc—stand alongside benchmark Pinot Noir and Syrah as some of California's most critically acclaimed, authentic, and seamless single-vineyard expressions.
🍇 Grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon