This wine is a beautiful, saturated purple color. It’s quite aromatic, with classic Cabernet blackberry fruit, cassis, warm wood with light spice (including allspice), and dark chocolate. In the mouth, the lively acidity makes this wine juicy; there is depth and fleshiness to the fruit, which now includes sour cherry notes. There’s a hint of cedar and bramble with a sweet wood finish. Well integrated and balanced, this medium-bodied Cabernet has a longer finish.

WINE INFORMATION

Grapes for this wine are harvested manually in the early morning to preserve the freshness of the fruit. After a three-day cold soak, the Cabernet and other varieties are fermented separately for nine days at about 85°F using both native and cultured yeasts. Varieties spend an average of 12 days on the skins before the blend is made. The wine ages 16 months in a combination of French and American oak, 33% new. The wine is bottled unfined.

The name “Starmont” first appeared on a wine label in 1989. It was part of the Merryvale brand, designed to complement the “more mature” and higher end Merryvale portfolio. Starmont aimed to make high quality, varietally correct wines using Napa and Carneros fruit at a more approachable price than the Merryvale line. Initially, both labels were made at Merryvale’s St. Helena facility, but as the number of Starmont bottlings grew, it was time to move out. In 2005, the Schlatter family, who owned both lines, purchased two parcels of the historic Stanly Ranch, first planted in 1872. They built a green state-of-the-art winery for Starmont, where the brand continued to thrive. They sold the facility in 2019, and moved Starmont back to the original St. Helena winery.. Today, under the direction of winemaker Jeff Crawford, Starmont makes Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, and rosé, using sustainable practices in the vineyard and cellar.

Grilled preparations, Red Meat, Slow-smoked Barbeque/BBQ Sauce