Mount Veeder Winery Elevation 1550 Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 750ml

Product Info

Terroir
The Elevation 1550 Cabernet Sauvignon takes its name from its dramatic vineyard setting on Mount Veeder, one of Napa Valley’s most rugged and distinctive appellations. Planted at approximately 1,550 feet above sea level, these steep hillside vineyards sit well above the fog line, benefiting from abundant sunlight tempered by cooling marine influences from San Pablo Bay. This elevation creates a longer growing season, allowing Cabernet Sauvignon to ripen slowly and evenly while retaining freshness and aromatic complexity.

The soils are characteristically thin, rocky, and volcanic, with fractured bedrock and minimal topsoil. These low-fertility conditions naturally limit vine vigor, resulting in small berries with thick skins and intense concentration. Mount Veeder’s challenging terrain yields wines defined less by sheer ripeness and more by structure, minerality, and savory depth. The 2023 vintage reflects this balance, capturing the mountain’s signature power while maintaining poise and precision.

Winemaking
Mount Veeder Winery approaches Elevation 1550 with a disciplined, site-driven philosophy, allowing the vineyard’s inherent intensity to guide winemaking decisions. Grapes are harvested by hand in small lots to ensure optimal ripeness and careful selection. Fermentation is carried out in temperature-controlled vessels, with extended maceration employed to gently extract color, tannin, and phenolic depth without sacrificing finesse.

Following fermentation, the wine is aged in French oak barrels, with a measured proportion of new oak chosen to enhance structure and integration rather than dominate the fruit. Extended élevage allows the wine to knit together gradually, softening tannins while preserving Mount Veeder’s hallmark firmness and mineral edge. The overall approach emphasizes balance and longevity, producing a Cabernet Sauvignon that is both expressive and built to age.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2023 Elevation 1550 Cabernet Sauvignon presents a deep, opaque ruby core with inky purple highlights, signaling density and concentration. The nose is layered and commanding, opening with aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, and dark cherry, followed by notes of crushed rock, graphite, and mountain herbs. As the wine opens, secondary nuances of cedar, cocoa, and subtle tobacco emerge, framed by restrained oak spice.

On the palate, the wine is powerful yet tightly coiled. Dark fruit flavors dominate the entry, supported by firm, fine-grained tannins and a core of fresh acidity that provides lift and definition. Savory notes of bay leaf, espresso, and iron-rich minerality add complexity through the mid-palate. Despite its intensity, the wine remains balanced and focused, finishing long and structured with lingering dark fruit, spice, and a distinctly rocky, mountain-driven character.

Food Pairings
Elevation 1550 is ideally suited to bold, structured cuisine that complements its intensity and tannic backbone. It pairs exceptionally well with grilled ribeye, dry-aged beef, or lamb, particularly when seasoned simply to highlight the wine’s savory nuances. Braised short ribs, venison, or wild game dishes echo the wine’s depth and mountain character.

For cheese pairings, aged and firm styles such as aged Cheddar, Pecorino, or Alpine cheeses work beautifully. Decant for at least one to two hours prior to serving and serve at approximately 60–65°F to allow the wine’s aromatics and structure to fully unfold.

Cellaring & Longevity
The 2023 Mount Veeder Winery Elevation 1550 Cabernet Sauvignon is built for extended aging. In its youth, it displays power, structure, and tightly wound tannins, with primary dark fruit and mineral-driven intensity. With time in the cellar, the wine will evolve toward greater harmony, revealing tertiary notes of graphite, leather, dried herbs, and savory spice.

Properly cellared, this wine should develop beautifully over 15–20 years, rewarding patience with increasing complexity, polish, and depth. Elevation 1550 stands as a compelling expression of mountain-grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon—structured, serious, and unmistakably shaped by its high-elevation terroir.