2002 Seavey Cabernet Sauvignon

The Seavey Vineyard, first planted in 1871, was one of Napa Valley's original hillside vineyards. Today winemaking star Philippe Melka crafts its formidable Cabernet fruit into voluptuous wines like this one—black and dense with tarry plum and licorice notes.

The growing conditions of 2002 far exceeded expectations. Good quantities of rain the preceding winter, a long spring and even-tempered summer allowed the grapes to slowly develop and take all the nourishment that our soil and the sun had to offer. The grapes were harvested in late September and early October from vines planted on several different locations of the generally South facing Seavey hillside vineyard. The wine, a blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot, was handcrafted in traditional classic Bordeaux methods utilizing modern technology.

In 1979, after a long period as a horse and cattle ranch, the original acres east of Conn Creek were purchased by William and Mary Seavey, who began to replant the vineyard. Initially, the planting and managing of the vineyard was sub-contracted by the Seavey’s to Roy Raymond, Jr., and all of the grapes were sold to Raymond Vineyards.

In 1989, the Seavey’s renovated the original stone dairy barn as their winery, and in 1990 began to make Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay under the Seavey Vineyard label, adding Merlot in 1994. The success of their early vintages encouraged them to expand production, especially of Cabernet Sauvignon, and required construction of a second winery building in 2000.