J. Davies Cabernet Sauvignon, Jamie, Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley – 2015
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Introduction
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The Davies family, proprietors of Schramsberg and Davies Vineyards in Napa Valley, presents the fourth vintage of the J. Davies “Jamie,” the finest Cabernet Sauvignon crafted from its historic Diamond Mountain vineyard property. Bearing her signature, this wine is named in honor of Schramsberg’s matriarch, the late Jamie Davies. Along with her husband Jack, she revived the Schramsberg property in 1965 with an inspired vision of crafting world-class American sparkling wines. Five decades later, son Hugh, his wife Monique and a second generation of the Davies family has taken on the challenge of producing extraordinary Cabernet Sauvignon from vines grown on the family’s hillside property. They are proud to release the J. Davies “Jamie” Cabernet Sauvignon, representing the pinnacle of an endeavor that spans over 156 years.
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Vineyard Profile
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The vineyard blocks, totaling 41 acres, are laid out in three isolated pockets ranging from 500 to 1,000 feet in elevation. The first two are the original Schram sections, Napa Valley’s first hillside vineyards, originally established by Jacob Schram in 1862. The third section is the adjacent McEachran parcel, which was first planted by Colin McEachran in 1878. These are the southernmost vineyards in the Diamond Mountain District AVA. Supported by diverse volcanic soils, flanked by two cool creek canyons (Nash Creek to the north and Ritchie Creek to the south) and surrounded by compact coniferous and deciduous forests, the vines here produce late-ripening, richly concentrated fruit with average yields of just two tons per acre.
- Appellation: Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley, estate-grown
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Vintage Report
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The 2015 vintage will be remembered for high quality, and low yields. The growing season started with unseasonably warm temperatures in late winter and early spring resulting in an early bud break and bloom. Cooler temperatures in May led to below average fruit set. These conditions resulted in small clusters of grapes with highly concentrated flavors.
- Harvest Date(s): September 11 - 30, 2015
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Vinification
- Barrel Aging: 30 months in 87% new French oak
- Coopers: Taransaud, Darnajou, Orion
- Bottled: January 25, 2018
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec
- Production (in cases): 150 (9-Liter)
- Alcohol: 14.9%
- TA: 6.2 g/L
- p H: 3.75
- Release Date: September 1, 2019
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Tasting Notes
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“This wine holds perfumed aromas of dark red cherry, dried strawberry, raspberry and rose petal combined with violet, black tea and coffee. Dense concentrated fruit flavors of black currant, black cherry and mint mingle effortlessly with dark chocolate and are seamlessly brought together with a well-structured, rich mid-palate.” – Winemakers Sean Thompson and Hugh Davies and Consulting Winemaker Celia Welch
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Images
Reviews
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J. Davies Cabernet Sauvignon, Jamie, Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley – 2015 – Wine Enthusiast – 94 Points
Blended with 7% Malbec from the high-elevation estate and aged for 30 months in French oak, 87% of it new, this is a beautifully crafted, bold and substantial wine, rich and seductive in dark cherry and chocolate liqueur. Soft integrated tannins support well-behaved oak as nuances of forest pine and tobacco weigh in. Enjoy best 2025–2035.
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J. Davies Cabernet Sauvignon, Jamie, Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley – 2015 – The Wine Advocate – 93-95+ Points
This is a barrel selection of the best barrels, accounting for around 300 cases. This wine was tasted as a barrel sample. The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Jaime displays a deep garnet-purple color and nose of plum preserves, crème de cassis, mocha and licorice with hints of blueberry pie, Chinese five spice, black soil and pepper. Full-bodied, rich, concentrated and wonderfully decadent, it has a firm backbone of fine-grained tannins supporting the generous fruit, finishing on a spicy note.