Cimarossa Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 8–25 years from the vintage release, as the robust mountain tannins benefit from cellar aging to fully integrate and soften.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
grilled ribeye steak, roasted rack of lamb, braised beef short ribs
✨ Technical Specifications
Perched high on the rugged slopes of Howell Mountain, the Cimarossa Vineyard—meaning 'red hilltop' in Italian—sits at an elevation of over 2,100 feet, well above the Napa Valley fog line. This dramatic terroir is defined by its intensely red, iron-rich volcanic soils and extreme temperature shifts, which force the vines to struggle and yield small, highly concentrated berries. TOR Kenward Family Wines harnesses this wild mountain character to craft a Cabernet Sauvignon of immense structure and profound depth. Guided by winemaker Jeff Ames, the winemaking process relies on minimal intervention, native yeast fermentation, and bottling without fining or filtration, allowing the vineyard's signature mineral-driven, briary, and dark fruit profile to shine through with remarkable purity and power.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 2001 by Napa Valley veteran Tor Kenward and his wife Susan, TOR Wines is an artisanal producer located in St. Helena, California. Drawing upon Kenward's nearly three decades of executive experience alongside legendary growers and winemakers at Beringer Vineyards, the estate is dedicated to crafting small-production, vineyard-designated wines from premier sites throughout Napa Valley. TOR focuses primarily on historic grand cru-caliber terroirs, most notably Beckstoffer To Kalon, Beckstoffer Dr. Crane, and Cimarossa Vineyard. Employing a minimalist, site-expressive winemaking philosophy, the winery is internationally celebrated for its powerful, cellar-worthy Cabernet Sauvignons, refined Chardonnays, and rare, expressive Syrahs.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon