This is a vineyard that we have yearned for for years: an excellent, hillside, old-vine Cabernet vineyard-- hidden in an appelation that does not demand Napa prices. The vineyard was well known to Steve Tenbrink for years-- he lives just below its slopes in the north eastern corner of Suisun Valley. In 2007 he took one look at my very expensive Cabernet from the young vines at Margit's on the west side of Spring Mountain, and said: "I can find better Cabernet than that, and be back with in 10 minutes." That was the first year that we harvested Wolfskill; we made the wine together for Steve's family label. I declassified and did not release 100% of the wine I made from Margit's that year.

I finally got into Wolfskill to make Cabernet for Scholium in 2012. The wine is a perfect reflection of the wines our teachers and progenitors were making in the 70s. Perhaps a little higher in alcohol, as Jon Bonné would point out-- but perfectly ripe, and at the same time, light, finely articulated, and perfumed more by green spices than purple fruits. And I am very happy to be able to offer a Cabernet from an amazing, old-vine site for less than half what the wine would cost from Napa. It is a California winemaker's dream.