Wine

Current Release

2021

2021

The 2021 holds many stories, including joyfully mild weather, small yields of phenomenal fruit, and the histories of 14 vineyards. It also has its own narrative of bright fruit driven by a core of blueberry, cassis, dark chocolate-covered espresso bean, Asian spice, and graphite. This is a great example of the vintage.

Christopher Carpenter
Winemaker
91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot
Cardinale 2020 bottle

Current Release

2022 Intrada

2022 INTRADA

Age-ability may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Sauvignon Blanc, but when left to evolve, this Bordeaux-style wine shows a roundness that gently offsets the crisp acidity of the noble grape.

"The 2022 was a great growing season for Intrada. The flavors developed beautifully on the vine and we were able to pick before the heat hit in September. The mix of clones in the two vineyards, and our mix of fermentation vessels in the cellar, created an energetic and complex Intrada. We fermented and aged 50% of the lot in concrete eggs, 30% in stainless steel, and 20% in neutral French oak barrels. Every sip is fresh and vividly layered like a springtime walk through the best kind of garden."

Gianna Ghilarducci
Winemaker
94% Sauvignon Blanc, 6% Semillon

Limited 10-Year Library ReRelease

2014 Vintage

2014

It’s polished, pure and elegant, even at this early stage of its bottled life. The mountain-grown fruit from Veeder Peak on Mount Veeder was the foundation of the 2013 Cardinale, lending it sturdy structure and powerful fruit concentration. In contrast, Spring Mountain District (Yverdon, Wurtele and Spring Mountain Vineyard) showed strong during the blending of 2014 Cardinale and is the base to which Veeder Peak and sites in the Howell Mountain, Diamond Mountain and other sub-appellations added complexity. Spring Mountain’s textbook floral aromas, finer tannins and vibrant dark-red fruit give the 2014 seamlessness and approachability now, yet it has the acid and tannin backbone to allow it to mature gracefully in the cellar.

Christopher Carpenter
Winemaker
88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot

Past Vintages

For information about the availability of past vintages, vertical collections, or large formats, please contact us at 707.948.2643 or info@cardinale.com

91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot
91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot

Guided by the vintage character of each year, these wines assemble the distinctive flavors and personality of individual Napa Valley appellations into a richly layered, balanced whole. The 2019 is a great example of this, with its great primary fruit characters, but also tons of rose petal, cedar, espresso bean, and pain grillé. The ’19s have a compelling savory aspect that really comes through in this wine – a perfect frame for the intense, dark fruit of the mountains.

Christopher Carpenter
Winemaker
90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot
90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot

Cardinale offers the same winning combination in vinous form: a brilliant ensemble of celebrated Napa Valley vineyards where each brings its own personality and flavor contributions to create a singular storyline of their vintage. This year, the tools include seven appellations and 32 individual wine lots. With the right vision, we crafted the finished piece – 2018 Cardinale. Super structured and with minerality to spare, this Cabernet Sauvignon offers a real presence on the palate from start to finish.

Christopher Carpenter
Winemaker
95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot
95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot

Cardinale offers the same winning combination in vinous form: a brilliant ensemble of celebrated Napa Valley vineyards where each brings its own personality and flavor contributions to create a singular storyline of their vintage. The 2017 has the signature structure of Cardinale and showcases Asian spice, blackberries, sweet black cherry, a touch of cedar, and a lush tannin expression that carries on the tradition of this wine at the highest level.

Christopher Carpenter
Winemaker
89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot
89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot

Cardinale offers the same winning combination in vinous form: a brilliant ensemble of celebrated Napa Valley vineyards where each brings its own personality and flavor contributions to create a singular storyline of their vintage. The 2016 is a mélange of blackberry, dark cherry, blueberry pie, mocha, slate, graphite, and toasted vanilla that will awaken you to the incredible vintage that was and is 2016.

Christopher Carpenter
Winemaker
90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot
90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot

Cardinale offers the same winning combination in vinous form: a brilliant ensemble of celebrated Napa Valley vineyards where each brings its own personality and flavor contributions to create a singular storyline of their vintage. With its array of top-notch vineyard sources and nuanced layers of dark berry, espresso bean, cedar, and rose petal, the 2015 Cardinale is truly Napa Valley at its best, with no room for wine desperados as it rides off into the sunset.

Christopher Carpenter
Winemaker
88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot
88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot

It’s polished, pure and elegant, even at this early stage of its bottled life. The mountain-grown fruit from Veeder Peak on Mount Veeder was the foundation of the 2013 Cardinale, lending it sturdy structure and powerful fruit concentration. In contrast, Spring Mountain District (Yverdon, Wurtele and Spring Mountain Vineyard) showed strong during the blending of 2014 Cardinale and is the base to which Veeder Peak and sites in the Howell Mountain, Diamond Mountain and other sub-appellations added complexity.

Christopher Carpenter
Winemaker
86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot
86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot

“In 2013, we knew that Mother Nature had created her transcendent work. It was up to us to present Cardinale to you as one of the wines that would exemplify this vintage now and far into the future. This was a responsibility we did not take lightly, knowing we had to focus on the depth, the power, the subtlety and complexity of this vintage. In the end I am confident we created a wine that captures that idea and those aspects and celebrates 2013 as it should be– transcendent." 

Christopher Carpenter
Winemaker
84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot
84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot

“Every sub-appellation gave us beautiful fruit, beyond expectation. Blackberry, shale, hints of earth, currant, Asian spice and mountain minerality, reside alongside a breadth of structural tannins and weight from the concentration of fruit.”

Christopher Carpenter
Winemaker
89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot
89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot

“The 2011 Cardinale has aged gracefully over time. Similar to a great Bordeaux vintage, the fruit continues to shine, and the tannins have softened, while the savory characters that defined the 2011 vintage continue to eloquently develop. With aromatics of dark cherry, sage, black pepper and toast, accompanied by flavors of bright fruit, Asian spice, and espresso bean – this wine continues to present itself beautifully and will continue to do so for decades to come.”

Christopher Carpenter
Winemaker
86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot
86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot

“An intriguing combination of dark fruits and spices. The blending of five mountain sub-appellations provided aromas of ripe boysenberry, dark cherry and dragon fruit. These fruits meld on the palate with holiday spice and Sumatra coffee bean characters. The wine is lush in mid-body texture and has a lingering finish.”

Christopher Carpenter
Winemaker
91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot
91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot

“Layering of sensory qualities from Mount Veeder and Howell Mountain is the foundation of every Cardinale, and 2009 gave us aromas of rose petal, mineral and cassis, and palate impressions of blackberry, dragon fruit and dark chocolate, with a silky, mouth-filling texture.”

Christopher Carpenter
Winemaker
91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot
91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot

“The 2008 aromatic element evokes violets and orange blossoms. The fruit, influenced by the blend’s Howell Mountain backbone, adds a dark cherry component combined with a palate of currant, ripe blackberry and toast, with a velvety texture on a lingering finish.”

Christopher Carpenter
Winemaker
86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot
86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot

“At 10 years old, it’s in peak drinking condition, with mouth-filling fruit, supple texture, velvety tannins and distinctive anise and graphite notes. Mountain vineyards contributed approximately 90% of the grapes to the blend and time has rounded their youthful edges. Fruit from warmer benchland vineyards in Oakville and St. Helena enhance the mid-palate and richness.”

Christopher Carpenter
Winemaker
86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot
86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot

100 POINTS, Steve Heimoff, The Wine Enthusiast, March 2010

“The expansive aromas come from Mount Veeder's dark fruit and minerality, and Howell Mountain's freshly brewed French roast and a hint of Stags Leap cassis. The palate conveys the floral tones of Spring Mountain, the lushness of Oakville's To Kalon and the backbone of Mount Veeder.”

Christopher Carpenter
Winemaker
88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot
88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot

“Inviting floral aromas, with hints of black cherry, blackberry jam and cassis, lead to a mouthful of similar flavors, plus anise, vanilla crème, flint and toast. Beautifully balanced, this Cardinale owes its opulence and silky tannins to fruit from To Kalon, Taylor and Clem Carinalli Vineyards, which make up thirty percent of the blend.”

Christopher Carpenter
Winemaker
91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot
91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot

“The Stags Leap and Oakville portion of the blend represented higher percentages, as the mountain components needed the middle body these valley-floor vineyards provide. The sweetness of the Taylor Vineyard in Stags Leap and the weight of To Kalon in Oakville fit gracefully with the strength, minerality and black fruit from Mount Veeder and Howell Mountain.”

Christopher Carpenter
Winemaker
86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot
86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot

“Early rains and late heat spikes were challenges, yet detailed blending created a cohesive Cardinale. After multiple blending trials, the final wine leads with black currant, anise, the minerality of Mount Veeder and Howell Mountain, the gravelly palate of Oakville, and the soft character of Stags Leap.”

Christopher Carpenter
Winemaker
88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot
88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot

“Dominated by Mount Veeder fruit, this vintage opens with violets, anise, dark fruit and a hint of vanilla on the nose. The palate is rich and velvety, with sweet tannins, a tremendous middle body, and a Mount Veeder finish of acid and structure.”

Christopher Carpenter
Winemaker
73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot
73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot

“The last Cardinale vineyard to include Sonoma County grapes, it’s a vintage with a tremendous amount of tannin in the Cabernet, which drove the addition of a larger percentage of Merlot.”

Christopher Carpenter
Winemaker

Cardinale is a small-production, limited-availability wine. To acquire, we invite you to join our mailing list. As a mailing list member, you will receive an allocation of wine with the release of each new vintage, as well as invitations to exclusive events.

Please contact us with any questions at 800.588.0279 or by email at info@cardinale.com.

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Tastings

By appointment only. Request A Tasting

Contact

LOCAL: 707.948.2643
TOLL FREE: 800.588.0279
FAX: 707.944.2824

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7600 St. Helena Highway
Oakville, California
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