Cardinale Wine

"A magnificent wine made the by the brilliant winemaker Chris Carpenter, who also works for the Kendall-Jackson empire at Lokoya and a handful of other estates ...sourced from multiple vineyards owned by the Jacksons, from Veeder Peak to Spring Mountain to Howell Mountain." — Robert Parker

With a portfolio of wineries containing Lokoya, Verite, and La Jota, the Jackson family could very well be the wine equivalent of the world-famous musical family. In 1982, Jess Jackson created yet another marvel of the wine world in the coveted Napa terroir: Cardinale Winery. Set on producing the region's top cabernet sauvignon from a collection of nearby vineyards, Cardinale wines are produced with age in mind, able to sit in your cellar for years before hitting peak condition.

Cardinale Estate Napa Terroir

As 8 vineyards are a part of the Cardinale estate, mountain-grown grapes have become the foundation of the final blend thanks to 6 mountain vineyards and 2 valley floor plots. Each vintage contains varying amounts of cabernet sauvignon and merlot in the blend, working as the sole varietals in the age-worthy wine. The estate's vineyards are as follows:

• Veeder Peak Vineyard
• WS Keyes Vineyard
• La Jota Estate Vineyard
• Andrew Geoffrey Vineyard
• Wallis Vineyard
• Yverdon Vineyard
• Van Z Vineyard
• Clos Du Val Vineyard

Depending on the vineyard, the vines may struggle in the thin, rocky soils on the steep slopes. These mountain-grown vines require extra care and attention to fully extract the intense flavor, layered complexity, and rich tannins of the grapes. The lower-elevation grapes, conversely, are more refined, offering a more vivid character and finer tannins. 

Cardinale Wines: Chris Carpenter's Winemaking Talent

Chris Carpenter is the estate's head winemaker and brings his multi-layered personality to the wine. As a "do-it-all" man, Carpenter balances the act of being the estate's head winemaker and vineyard manager, planting his personality into every bottle. He believes that each drink should have big, yet refined and elegant tastes that improve with age. Though the final blends are ready for drinking young, each vintage is made for long-term aging. Called a "brilliant winemaker" by Robert Parker, his philosophy has grabbed the attention of other notable critics like Antonio Galloni, who called his creations "one of the most finessed wines [he has] ever tasted."

Spectacular & Rare: Cardinale Cabernet Sauvignon

Limited production of 2,000 cases per year has led Cardinale Cabernet Sauvignon to become one of Napa's most coveted wines. While older vintages are treasured in Napa's wine scene, youthful Cardinale wines are some of the estate's most sought-after, acclaimed drinks. The 2019 vintage was called "another brilliant wine from Carpenter that can offer pleasure today yet also evolve for 20-25 years or more" by renowned critic Jeb Dunnuck. The drink gained an additional 99-point score from Lisa Perrotti Brown and 98+ points from James Suckling. Furthermore, the 2013 and 2016 Cardinale Cabernets are begging to be secured by collectors thanks to their outstanding aging ability.

Grab some bottles from this coveted Napa estate today!