Features
Name:
Ulysses Napa Valley 2014
Terrain:
deep, gravelly and clayey
Cellar
The winery, or rather the Ulysses Vineyard, once part of Charles Hopper's ranch, was purchased in 2008 by Christian Moueix. Located along the Oakville bench of Napa Valley and on an alluvial fan at the foot of the Mayacamas range, the site is exceptional for growing grapes. The soil is composed of deep, gravelly clays and is particularly suitable for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. After the acquisition, Christian Moueix and his team deepened their knowledge of the soil and microclimate and undertook a long and meticulous restoration of the vineyard. Dry farming, the basis of Ulysses' sustainable agricultural practices, increases root depth and drought resistance, resulting in a wine that is a pure expression of its terroir.
Description
Ulysses is a distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The intent of the Ulysses Wine Cellars team is to produce a wine that reflects the exceptional potential and individuality of the Ulysses Vineyard, with a minimalist approach, careful observation and restrained intervention. The wine evokes 'authenticity, purity and luminosity'. It must be decanted before serving.
Organoleptic characteristics:
Compact purple red colour. The olfactory spectrum shifts to dark notes of sweet cedar wood, unsmoked cigar tobacco, crème de cassis and black raspberries in a classic style for this wine. The palate shows a creamy, ample texture, offering a return of rich aromas of tobacco, ripe plums and figs, beautifully balanced by a long, smooth finish.
Storage time:
over ten years
Vinification
Harvested when perfectly ripe and with the utmost care, the grapes are subjected to a selection of bunches and berries before gentle vinification and ageing.
Acknowledgements
2014 The Wine Advocate 94/100
2014 James Suckling 98/100
2014 Decanter94/100
2014 Antonio Galloni Vinous94/100
