A Bold Napa Valley Cabernet You Need to Know: When You Want to Go Big, This is a Worthy Wine

Ehlers Estate is a 100 percent organic operation.

Every now and then, I find myself desiring a big, bold Napa Valley Cabernet, one that finishes long and lingeringly, a bottle whose provenance is upfront and obvious, a wine that in the glass is dark red (approaching ruby maroon) in color and whose tannins are assertive and complex. In short, something that speaks and drinks seriously for the occasion, perhaps a dinner of dry-aged ribeye, grilled asparagus, and creamy and rich polenta (a meal commenced with poached oysters and caviar).

Now, the wine I chose for that very meal fits my above-stated desire. It’s the 2015 “1886” Cabernet Sauvignon from Ehlers Estate, and I urge you to consider this bottle for your next dinner party. In fact, two bottles would be ideal, because this vintage is going to age well.

The tannins here are superbly tight, and I am confident that uncorking the 2015 “1886” in 2030 would be an auspicious decision.

This one is 92 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 4 percent Cabernet Franc, 3 percent Merlot, and 1 percent Petit Verdot, a blend of grapes grown entirely on Ehlers land (the winery, which has a fascinating history, is 100 percent organic). The name “1886” refers to the year the winery was founded, and the 42-acre contiguous estate holds CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers) bragging rights.

This is a full-bodied wine, a chewy and spicy one. Aromas of eucalyptus, violet, blackberry and leather are evident, and it’s a heady aroma at that. A taste brings forth humid earth, deep raspberry, vanilla and cassis. We tasted immediately upon opening the bottle, then let it face some air for 20 minutes, which resulted in a more structured and nuanced wine. As I wrote above, this one is young, and while we enjoyed it immensely, its potential speaks with confidence. The tannins here excited us.

Grapes for the 2015 “1886” were harvested between September 8 and September 23, and alcohol is 14.2 percent; your grilled steak or lamb will pair with this wonderfully. And how about this for a bonus: 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of Ehlers wines are returned to the LeDucq Foundation to support cardiovascular research.