The color of the 2021 Rattlesnake is near opaque purple. The nose is very intense, with blackberry pie, caramel, dark roast coffee, cola, and raspberry reduction pouring out of the glass. Under these intense aromatics hides some volcanic minerality and crushed violets. The wine is ultra rich, plush and powerful on the palate. Darker fruit comes out, mostly reduced cassis matched by intense dark chocolate. The tannins are big, chalky, and matched by the famous Spring Mountain acidity. Dark chocolate covered cherries linger on the finish. This is an intense powerful wine that is barely starting to show the myriad of flavors it has to offer 19-20 years (2042-2043).

Barnett Vineyards is a small, family-owned winery, celebrating over 40 years on Spring Mountain, Napa Valley. With a focus on small lot, premium wines, Barnett produces an average of 8,000 cases annually. At an elevation of 2,000 ft, with rocky and well drained soils, our estate yields ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Sourcing from esteemed single vineyards across Northern California, we also produce beautiful Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With a focus on organic farming, and minimalist winemaking techniques, each wine captures a sense of vintage and terroir.

Fiona and Hal Barnett became enamored with Napa Valley through frequent visits on the weekends of the early 1980’s. A vision began to form, and after an extensive search, they purchased a 40-acre property located atop Spring Mountain in 1983. The lot consisted of nothing but trees, rocks, shrubs, and dozens of rattlesnakes. After extensive work clearing, grading, and terracing the land, the first Cabernet Sauvignon vines were planted the following year. Barnett Vineyard’s first harvest was in 1989 and yielded 232 cases of "Spring Mountain Cabernet". Since 1991, the winery has expanded gradually, selecting outstanding vineyard sites for grapes in addition to those grown on the estate, leading to a current total production of approximately 8,000 cases. Rattlesnake and Spring Mountain District wines remain the focus with total estate production around 6,000 cases annually. In addition, we produce limited amounts of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc sourced from coveted single vineyards located in astounding appellations.

Proof/ABV: 14.9