Legend Has It | 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon - Calistoga AVA

Legend has it…

When Prohibition swept through Napa, Calistoga wasn’t quiet. In the shadows, bootleg crews kept the valley alive. They were scrappy, desperate, ingenious—hauling wine in the dead of night, hiding it in fields, earning the nickname “Tomato Can Gangs.” They weren’t outlaws chasing fortune; they were survivors protecting a way of life.

Barrels were seized, gallons dumped, headlines screamed of raids and court battles. Most lost everything. But not all. Stories tell of one vintner who fought back—the only man to beat the U.S. Marshals at their own game. Thirty thousand gallons of seized wine were returned by federal court order, a decision so bold it shook Prohibition to its core. The papers called it far-reaching. Locals called it survival. History remembers it as legend.

That same defiance lives here. Legend Has It is born from Greenwood Vineyard, a small block at the northern edge of Calistoga where volcanic ash and gravelly loam forge Cabernet of uncommon depth. Hot days drive cassis and blackberry into the fruit; cool canyon nights cut it with freshness and grip. Structured, ink-dark, and unapologetic, this is Cabernet built on discipline, grit, and legacy.

Tasting Notes

Inky, dark, and unflinching—just like the stories behind the label. Black fruit leads (plum, blackberry, cassis) with a streak of cedar and violets and the kind of mineral edge only volcanic ground gives. On the palate, the fruit is rich but tight, sharpened by cocoa and a hint of espresso. The tannins stand tall yet stay smooth, giving backbone without rough edges. Disciplined in French oak, the fruit finds balance: bold but precise, powerful but refined. The finish runs long like a legend told late into the night.

🍇 Ripe plum, blackberry, cassis

🍫 Cocoa + a touch of espresso

🪨 Minerality from volcanic soils

Vineyard & Winemaking

From Greenwood Vineyard (Calistoga AVA), a pocket of volcanic ash and gravelly loam that forces vines to dig deep. Calistoga is Napa’s hottest corner—blazing summer days concentrate flavor while 30–40°F nighttime swings preserve acidity and lift. Small, thick-skinned berries = color, tannin, and structure.

Hand-harvested, fermented in small lots, and aged with discipline in French oak—refining raw Calistoga strength into balance, polish, and a finish built to endure.

• Vintage: 2023

• Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

• Alcohol: 14.8%

• Style: Bold • structured • powerful

• Cases Produced: 65

Pairs Well With

🥩 A perfectly charred tomahawk steak

🍝 Slow-braised short ribs over pappardelle

🍄 Charred portobellos with rosemary & olive oil

🍫 Dark chocolate (70%+)

🎶 Deep cuts on vinyl, played late into the night

FAQ

Is it dry or sweet? 100% dry, with firm, polished tannins.

How many cases? 65—when it’s gone, it’s gone.

Where’s it from? Greenwood Vineyard, Calistoga AVA, Napa Valley.

How to serve? Let this legend breathe a bit; decant 45–60 minutes (If you can wait!)