Honoring the bravery, strength and wisdom of the founders of the Napa Valley.
This is Wappo Hill Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
“We sought the heights, and from them, catalyzed the energy, the history, and the depth to create a wine that bears our adoration of this unique terroir… I felt, from the first moment there, that this is the ultimate expression of Napa Valley: Wappo Hill.”
— Jean-Charles Boisset, Proprietor
The Vintage.
The 2022 Harvest was marked by optimal growing conditions, resulting in exceptional fruit quality. Warm, sunny days paired with cool nights allowed the grapes to develop deep, concentrated flavors while maintaining excellent acidity. Harvest timing was precise, ensuring balanced ripeness and refined tannin structure. This vintage demonstrates a rich complexity, intense color, and impressive aging potential.
Tasting Notes.
Exhibiting a lustrous, jewel-like vibrance in the glass, this 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon reveals a deep violet hue, perfectly complemented by its crisp, well-integrated acidity. It presents an aromatic bouquet of ripe blackberries, delicate rose petals, and a whisper of herbal intrigue. The palate unfolds with layers of exotic spices mingling with lively bursts of dark cherries that enchant the senses. As the wine gracefully finishes, it leaves a memorable impression, defined by silky tannins and a complex, earthy undertone.
Winemaker’s Notes.
The fruit in this vintage is from two vineyards, with 90% coming from a vineyard in Stag’s Leap on the east side of Napa on the Valley floor (to mimic the potential of Wappo Hill when it is fully planted) and the remaining 10% from the east side of Napa. The Stag’s Leap climate, which has regular access to breezes and fog from the San Pablo Bay, lends a more textural context and tannin structure along with plush fruit flavors. The result is a Cabernet Sauvignon of remarkable elegance and refinement. The grapes went through extended maceration, with skin contact for an average of 31 days, then were aged for 19 months in small French oak barrels, 47% new French oak (Ermitage) before being bottled on July 17, 2024.
Technical.
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Napa Valley
Alcohol: 14.5%
pH: 3.85
Aging: 19 months in 47% new French oak
Production: 112 cases bottled
Accolades
2022 | 94 points, Wine Advocate
2022 | 94 points, Vinous
2021 | 95 points, James Suckling
2021 | 96 points, Decanter
2020 | 96 points, Decanter
2019 | 94 points, James Suckling
2019 | 98 points, Jeb Dunnuck
2018 | 97+ points, Wine Advocate
Historic Wappo Settlements.
The Napa Valley has been famous for its wines since the late 1800s, but its rich history extends at least 4,000 years prior and likely much more. Its fertile land supported the culture of “the People,” as they called themselves, in a series of villages. They spoke their own language, distinct from their neighbors, and boasted six villages spread across a territory that extended into Northern Sonoma County and Lake County and south to the estuary of the Napa River. When the Spanish arrived, they bestowed upon the native people the name “Wappo,” derived from the Spanish “guapo,” meaning “brave” or “courageous.”
The Winemaker.
Stephanie Putnam, Director of Winemaking
Stephanie Putnam is the Director of Winemaking for Napa Valley wines including Raymond Vineyards, where she oversees all aspects of winemaking for the iconic winery.
Before joining the Boisset Collection team, Stephanie spent eight years as Winemaker at Far Niente Winery, where she contemporized the winery’s house style. Prior to that, she was part of the team at Hess Collection, where she began as a cellar worker and rapidly progressed to Winemaker. While there, she also worked with the winery’s South American partners.
Throughout her tenure at these highly acclaimed Napa Valley estates, Stephanie has focused on producing high quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines. Her wines have won acclaim, including recognition in the Wine Spectator’s Top 100, the Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 and the designation of Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year by The Wine News.
A Northern California native and graduate of U.C. Davis with a B.S. in Fermentation Science, Stephanie developed her passion for winemaking at an early age thanks to her family’s appreciation of gourmet food and wine. She fondly remembers many childhood trips to the Napa Valley, where her parents would come to enjoy and collect wine.
