79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot

Tastiing Notes

Bringing together the best of both worlds from our Attelas and Edcora estate vineyards, this wine balances the concentration and power of great mountain-grown Cabernet, with a layered complexity that reflects the diversity of our estate vineyards.

On the nose, gorgeous aromas of ripe blackberry and sweet black cherry mingle with notes of cola, anise, dark chocolate and sandalwood. The voluptuous dark fruit continues on the palate, where rich, mouth-filling tannins add depth and nuance to layers of berry compote, graphite and minerality, while carrying the wines to a long, lush finish.

2016 Vintage Notes

The 2016 vintage on Atlas Peak provided ideal growing conditions at our Edcora and Attelas estate vineyards. After several years of drought, much-needed winter rains replenished our soils. The wet winter was followed by a dry, temperate spring and summer. Because there was abundant sunshine to ripen the grapes, with no noteworthy heat spikes, the grapes were able to mature slowly, developing beautifully articulated varietal flavors, while preserving the natural acidity that is a key element of our wines. The lovely weather continued into harvest, ensuring that we were able to pick each block exactly when we wished. Overall, yields were down slightly in 2016, resulting in wines with rich, concentrated flavors, supple tannins, and layers of terroir-driven complexity.

Reviews

Wine.com
“The 2016 Acumen PEAK Cabernet Sauvignon shows up with a long and sturdy appearance on the palate. This wine offers attractive aromas and flavors of black fruit, licorice and spice. A shading of oak adds additional complexity. Pair it with a well-marbled, grilled ribeye.” 94 Points -Wilfred Wong, December 2020

 Wine Review Online
“This Bordeaux-style blend from Napa’s Atlas Peak AVA is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, and it shows. Muscular and dense, with impressive palate weight and rich layers of blackberry and cassis, this is a candidate for extended cellaring. If you open it now, do yourself a favor and decant at least an hour prior to serving.” 94 Points -Robert Whitley, December 2020

 Wine Review Online
“This blend of fruit from the winery’s Attelas and Edcora vineyards on Atlas Peak is rife with rustic structure, making for a cellar worthy wine that has a great future. A dose of classy toasted oak spice is in the foreground at present, but the fruit underneath shows the beginnings of unwinding itself. Blackberry, currants, mild pepper and subtle dried herbs all lurk beneath the oak spice, and a firm grip shows the acidity that will bring everything together with time. There aren’t many wines left like this in Napa Valley – wines that reward patient cellaring – but remember that this is the kind of winemaking that put the region on the map in the first place.” 94 Points -Rich Cook, December 2020

OwenBargreen.com
“Acumen Wines has established an estate that features 116 organically certified acres of vines, spread across two remarkable vineyards on Napa Valley’s Atlas Peak. The Acumen team makes a small portfolio of estate-grown wines, with a focus on mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as Sauvignon Blanc. I adored both of the new release wines by Acumen, both coming from the fantastic and warm 2016 vintage. Phillip Titus certainly has hit a home run with these new wines.

The 2016 Acumen ‘Peak’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a fantastic blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot. Right away once in the glass this shows heady sandalwood tones alongside cassis, dark chocolate shavings and hints of Turkish coffee that all sing in unison. The palate is plush, round and generous with a soft mouthfeel and gorgeous texture. Ripe dark currants collide with smoky minerals, coffee grounds, cigar box and tobacco leaf tones on the palate. The length is gorgeous as this finishes extremely long with black fruits and minerals. Splendid to enjoy in its youth, the 2016 ‘Peak’ Cabernet Sauvignon will provide drinking enjoyment over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2021-2038.” 94 Points -Owen Bargreen, December 2020

Vinography
“One of the more impressive new Napa producers to which I have been introduced in the past few years is Acumen, and I’ve got two of their wines here this week: their Acumen PEAK Cabernet Sauvignon, and then a single vineyard rendition from Atlas Peak’s Edcora Vineyard. Both are excellent, and wonderful models of restraint, achieving gorgeous lush fruit but with lower alcohols and higher acidity than is typical in Napa.

Dark garnet in color, this wine smells of black cherry and cassis. In the mouth, juicy black cherry, black tea, earth, and cassis flavors are shot through with a touch of cola nut. Fine-grained muscular tannins drape the core of dark fruit, but don’t overwhelm, while excellent acidity keeps the wine resh and mouthwatering. Poised and nicely balanced, with a sophisticated restraint, as evidenced by its mere 14% alcohol.” Between 9 and 9.5 Points -Alder Yarrow, December 2020