Entrepreneur Eric Yua’n’s Napa journey is now complete. He is now guided by a team that includes legendary Winemaker Phillip Titus and renowned Viticulturist Garrett Buckland, as his Acumen Wines has established an estate that features 116 organically certified acres of vines, spread across two remarkable vineyards on Napa Valley’s Atlas Peak. The Acumen team makes a small portfolio of estate-grown wines, with a focus on mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as Sauvignon Blanc.
In 2012, building on a love affair with wine that was first cultivated while studying in Paris, entrepreneur Eric Yuan came to Napa Valley to found Acumen. He sought to create wines that have the French style of balance and structure, creating a product from the high slopes of Atlas Peak. He used the talents of founding Winemaker Denis Malbec (a veteran of Château Latour) and acclaimed Viticulturist Garrett Buckland, to find a high-elevation site that is typically 10 degrees cooler than on the valley floor.
Winemaker Phillip Tutus calls this region “remote and extremely difficult to plant.” Acumen acquired its first vineyard on Atlas Peak in 2012. Originally planted in 1992, and featuring 32 acres of vines with a northeast exposure, the Attelas Vineyard was the ‘home vineyard’ of Dr. Jan Krupp, predating his famed Stagecoach Vineyard by three years. In 2014, Acumen expanded its estate program with the acquisition of the Edcora Vineyard, which features 84 acres of vines 350 feet higher up on Atlas Peak.
I adored both of the new release wines by Acumen, both coming from the fantastic and warm 2016 vintage. The 2016 Acumen Wines ‘Edcora Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) is a show-stopping blend, showing sensational terroir and really nice non-fruit tones, with amazing viscosity and length. Philip Titus certainly has hit a home run with these new wines and learn more at https://www.acumenwine.com. Here are my reviews of the new Acumen Wines.
2016 Acumen Wine ‘Peak’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 Acumen ‘Peak’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a fantastic blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot. Right away once in the glass this shows heady sandalwood tones alongside cassis, dark chocolate shavings and hints of Turkish coffee that all sing in unison. The palate is plush, round and generous with a soft mouthfeel and gorgeous texture. Ripe dark currants collide with smoky minerals, coffee grounds, cigar box and tobacco leaf tones on the palate. The length is gorgeous as this finishes extremely long with black fruits and minerals. Splendid to enjoy in its youth, the 2016 ‘Peak’ Cabernet Sauvignon will provide drinking enjoyment over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2021-2038- 94
2016 Acumen Wine ‘Edcora Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 Acumen ‘Edcora Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a sensational wine that has an exceedingly long life ahead of it. A silky blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec. Once on the nose this takes on exotic spice aromatics that mingle with creme de cassis, graphite, tar and blackberry cordial that all take shape in the glass. The palate is gorgeous, showing a great sense of minerality and poise. Layers of blackberry cobbler, smoke, creme de cassis and Turkish coffee all collide with light tannins and dark chocolate shavings. Complex and hedonistic, this dense and magical Cabernet Sauvignon will cellar well for decades to come. Be sure to give this a two hour decant if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2021-2040- 95