"The flagship of The Hess Collection, our estate-grown Cabernet is produced from the original vineyards first acquired by Donald Hess in the late 1970s. This wine is one of my favorites to grow and make, and the 2016 vintage proved to be beautiful once more with the complexity, elegance and structure we have come to expect from our mountain fruit. On the nose, aromas of cocoa and juicy black cherry highlight the Cabernet Sauvignon at the heart of the wine, while subtle notes of delicate violets signal the presence of Malbec. We integrate a touch of Malbec to develop a softness in the tannins and to provide mouth filling layers of cassis and black plum alongside rounded notes of bittersweet chocolate. This wine is perfectly structured with elements of well-integrated toasty oak that linger throughout the lengthy, pleasing finish."- Dave Guffy, Director of Winemaking