The 2018 offering from Teucer Vineyard presents a richly fruited and charismatic model of volcanic Coombsville terroir. The nose delivers the site’s signature black fruit aromas with notes of freshly turned earth, but the palate surges into a dense core of juicy blue, purple and black fruits with wonderful sucrosity. Gentle notes of sumac and volcanic minerality balance the berries with natural acidity, and powerful, polished tannins guide the lingering finish of crushed blackberries, plum and warm wood spice.

Purlieu in the literal sense means "the edge of the forest" or "an outlying area." Symbolically, "purlieu" refers to our approach to winemaking, to exploring the outskirts and navigating the boundaries of what one may expect of a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. For us, the key to successfully walking that edge lies in maintaining balance: between innovation and tradition, confidence and restraint, depth and refreshment.

With more than two decades of winemaking expertise, Julien Fayard is one of Napa Valley’s most respected winemakers producing California varietals with French finesse. He believes in producing wines with an identity, exploiting what makes each one unique. Julien’s wines are a pure expression of their terroir, highlighting the specificities and characteristics of the fruit, vineyard management, soil and climate. He has a track record of building brands both in terms of quality and market presence. Originally from France, Julien began his career as a winemaker producing quality Rosé at his family’s winery in Provence. In Bordeaux he worked at Lafite Rothschild and Smith Haut Laffite before relocating to Napa Valley. In Napa, he was Philippe Melka’s director of winemaking for a few years before launching his own projects.

Proof/ABV: 14.5