Vice Versa 2023 Spinning Plates Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

The Cabernet Sauvignons of Vice Versa have become a phenomenon, selling out in just a few days at release each year. Spinning Plates is the gateway to these remarkable wines, and is a true modern Napa classic. Drawn mostly from the warmer north end of the Napa Valley, this is a blend of fruit from vineyards in Oakville, Rutherford, Stags Leap District, and Calistoga. The final blend is always dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, complimented by small additions of Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. This wine aged for 18 months after fermentation in stainless steel tanks with a 3-day cold soak and 29 days on the skins was complete.  Philippe used a mix of 85% new and 15% neutral French oak barrels for aging.  Aromas are brooding and dark-fruited, bursting with juicy blackberry and currant.  Touches of spice from the French oak meld with licorice, cigar box, and cocoa powder. Delicate and flawless tannins fill the palate, producing an alluring and full-bodied Cabernet with lively fruit, balance, and a lasting finish. Spinning Plates is a masterful blend of predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from some exceptional sites: the Ecotone Vineyard (formerly Abreu’s Thorevilos) on the slopes of Howell Mountain above St. Helena, and the Estate Vineyard in the far north of Calistoga. These are combined with Cabernet from a handful of ‘top-secret’ vineyards that remain a closely guarded secret! A dash of Cabernet Franc comes from the prized vines of the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard.