TOR Wines 'Tierra Roja Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, California

The 2019 TOR Wines 'Tierra Roja Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon is a masterful expression of one of Oakville’s most distinctive sites. Nestled on a four-acre hillside with iron-rich red volcanic soils, this vineyard produces wines of exceptional elegance and complexity, rivaling its prestigious neighbors—Backus, Screaming Eagle, Maya, and Rudd. Crafted exclusively from this west-facing, terraced vineyard, the 2019 vintage seamlessly blends depth, floral aromatics, and structural finesse, showcasing the skill and artistry of Tor Kenward and winemaker Jeff Ames.

Product Details

• Alcohol ABV: 15.1%
• Sweetness: Dry
• Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
• Production: 3,900 bottles produced

Sensory Description
The 2019 Tierra Roja greets the senses with a vibrant bouquet of red fruits, roses, lavender, rosemary, and sage. This floral elegance is layered with subtle earthy undertones of wet soil, cloves, and cinnamon stick. On the palate, the wine is both firm and refined, with sweet, fine-grained tannins providing structure and balance. The finish lingers gracefully, revealing the hallmark traits of the vineyard’s iron-rich soils and the vintage’s finesse. While this wine is approachable in its youth, its depth and complexity promise decades of aging potential.

Critical Acclaim

• Wine Enthusiast: 98 points (Tasted April 2024; Drink 2026–2040)
  "Not many young Napa Cabernet Sauvignons can be called silky, but this elegant, memorable wine is one of them. A perfumed aroma of black currants, violets and brown butter is followed by milk chocolate, spearmint and cassis flavors. Fine-grained tannins add a bit of grip to the texture."
• International Wine Report: 96 points
• James Suckling: 96 points
• Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate: 96 points (Tasted May 2022; Drink 2022–2040)
• Jeb Dunnuck: 95 points

Producer’s Background
Linda Neal has been the dedicated steward of Tierra Roja Vineyard since 1987, and its fruit has been used exclusively by TOR Wines since their inaugural release of this bottling in 2010. This four-acre hillside vineyard, with its striking red volcanic soils, produces wines of perfumed intensity and balanced structure. The collaboration between Linda Neal and Tor Kenward celebrates the vineyard’s unique terroir, resulting in wines that reflect both the grower’s devotion and the winemaker’s artistry.

Vintage Notes
The 2019 growing season was marked by a wet spring, which provided ample groundwater reserves, followed by a dry, temperate summer. This ideal weather pattern allowed for extended hang time, coaxing out remarkable color, structure, and tannin development. While the fruit set was smaller than in 2018, the clusters were concentrated and intensely flavored, yielding wines of both accessibility and longevity. In barrel, the 2019 Tierra Roja developed slowly, emerging as an elegant and precocious expression of an exceptional Napa Valley vintage.

Serving Suggestions
Serve the 2019 Tierra Roja Cabernet Sauvignon slightly cool, at 60–65°F, to fully appreciate its complex aromas and balanced structure. Pair it with herb-crusted lamb, grilled ribeye, or wild boar ragu for a classic match, or consider roasted root vegetables and mushroom dishes for a vegetarian pairing. Decanting for an hour is recommended if enjoyed young, though this wine will reward cellaring for 5–10 years, evolving beautifully through 2040 and beyond.