Product Description:

Wine:
"Our 2006 Alante is a pure, single-vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2006 vintage was very kind, allowing our vineyard to create a wine that seamlessly combines richness and finesse, complexity and focus. The bouquet opens with dark, warm, rich aromas of creme de cassis, blackberry jam, black cherry and dark chocolate, evolving slowly to reveal bright notes of violets and sour cherries with intriguing undertones of black pepper and wet stone. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, exhibiting remarkable balance and a beautiful, velvety texture. Naturally vibrant acidity and ripe, silky tannins combine to complement the wine's rich flavors, providing structure for a long, delicious finish. The 2006 Alante is very inviting today, but will also reward careful cellaring for another 10 to 15 years." - Winery

Vineyard:
"Alante Vineyard produces a single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon that lives up to even the strictest Napa Valley standards. Single vineyard wines are akin to the coveted "terroir" vintages of the Old World. These wines are made from premium fruit that stands on its own, without any need to blend or otherwise disguise flaws. Alante Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon benefits from the finest of St. Helena grapes, all harvested and fermented simultaneously and under constant environmental conditions. The resulting wine is both robust and remarkably complex." - Winery

Appellation St. Helena
"St. Helena is considered by many to be the best wine growing locale in Napa Valley. Exquisite vintages require the perfect combination of "terroir," microclimate, and winemaker. On these criteria, St. Helena puts any wine at a distinct advantage."

"The area boasts a unique topography that creates an optimal microclimate for growing wine grapes. At its narrowest, St. Helena's valley floor spans no more than a half mile across between the Mayacama and Vaca mountain ranges, providing a large hillside to valley floor ratio. The resulting narrow corridor funnels bay moisture and produces wide diurnal temperature swings. Daily temperatures can vary as many as 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Together, these conditions allow St. Helena fruit to derive maximum benefit from Napa Valley's warm climate."

"Alante Vineyard is located between Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail, which run North-South alongside the entire Napa Valley. Just South of Lodi Lane, the vineyard optimally sits on one of the narrowest points of the valley floor in St. Helena." - Winery

Paul Colantuoni - Winemaker:
"A rising star in Napa Valley, Paul Colantuoni brings to Alante Vineyard a balance of New and Old World sensibilities that bespeak an impressive international pedigree. The son of Italian parents and a citizen of both the United States and Belgium, Paul joined team Alante via prior engagements in California, France, Italy, and since 2006, back in our own Napa Valley."

"Paul began his winemaking career following his graduation from Princeton University, where he studied Chemical Engineering, Molecular Biology, and Romance Languages. In contrast to his eclectic academia, Paul has honed a direct and traditional approach to winemaking. Using classic non-interventionist techniques, he allows his wines to fully express the unique personalities of great vineyard sites."

"Paul has previously worked with Robert Mondavi Winery and Neyers Vineyards in Napa Valley, Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and Brancaia in Maremma on the Mediterranean coast of Tuscany. He trained alongside such luminaries as Ehren Jordan, Bruce Neyers, brothers Frederic and Daniel Brunier, and Carlo Ferrini."

"Alante Vineyard is proud to have Paul Colantuoni as its winemaker and family friend." - Winery