PRODUCER: Slingshot Wines, Stewart Cellars
REGION: North Coast, California, USA
WINEMAKERS: Blair Guthrie
Gone are the days when Napa was dominated by earnest, honest wines with equally honest price tags. This ethos has been increasingly replaced by those who seek to maximize price rather than accessibility. The Valley has become a place for industrialists and tech billionaires to park their fortunes, employing consultants to chase points from the critics and drive prices of the wines and the land into the stratosphere. In some ways, this expansion and injection of capital has propelled the region to international superstardom, producing some of the finest Bordeaux Reds and Chardonnays in the world. However, it has also caused an ever-increasing number of consumers to be priced out of enjoying these fantastic wines.
WINERY HISTORY
There are, however, a few vintners still producing unbelievably delicious, bang-for-your-buck wines. Step forward the Stewart family. Owners of the renowned Juliana Vineyards, their family label has been met with enormous critical acclaim. It is their second label – Slingshot – which most excites us, bringing exceptional value for cost back to California’s North Coast. Founded in 2005 by the second generation of Stewarts – James, Caroline, and winemaker Blair Guthrie (Caroline’s husband) - Slingshot aims to produce approachable North Coast and Napa Valley Cabernet. Its approach is practically irreverent in Napa these days, the wines intended for enjoyment alongside friends rather than to be fussed over at a tasting.
VITICULTURE & WINEMAKING
The Slingshot Cabernet starts with premium fruit sourced from the Napa Valley and other regions around the North Coast of California. In fact, a significant portion of the fruit is sourced from the Stewart's estate Juliana Vineyards, where the vines are tended in a sustainable, regenerative fashion. Other vineyard sources include the Testa Vineyard and Johnson Vineyard, family sites renowned for their responsible farming techniques and exceptional fruit.
A brilliant example of the power and finesse that typify California Cabernet, the Slingshot Cabernet avoids the domineering fruit and overpowering oaky-ness of many budget Cabernets. Blended with 8% Petit Verdot and 2% Petite Sirah, the wine ages for 22-months in French oak, around one-third of which is first use. Full flavoured with bright acidity, this wine is marked by an evident sense of place and unforgettable refreshment. At Slingshot, nothing is more important than quality. After all, it’s what’s in the bottle that counts.
