THE JEFFERSON CLUB - NOVEMBER 2021
This month, we feature a pioneer for women winemakers in Napa Valley, Cathy Corison, with her elegant eponymous Corison Cabernet Sauvignon 2018.
CORISON CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018
Winemaker: Cathy Corison
Region: Napa - three benchland vineyards between Rutherford and St. Helena
Grape Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Method: “elegant and restraint” in less new French Oak
Serving Suggestions: serve at 59-64F
Age: drink or hold through 2031
Nose: silky raspberry, violet, and soft hints at oak
Palate: textured cassis, dried herbs, and spice
Finish: balanced with graphite and lingering fruit
About CATHY CORISON
Cathy Corison is a pioneer in Napa winemaking, particularly for women. While finishing her education at UC Davis, Cathy was hired on by the winemaker at Freemark Abbey; however, she didn’t get the job, as the owners didn’t want a woman working in the cellar. However, after finishing her masters degree, the winemaker convinced the owners to bring her on. From there, Cathy spent the next two years at Spring Mountaing before taking over all winemaking operations for Chappellet on Pritchard Hill. She was instrumental in establishing what is now a mountain-side Cabernet powerhouse, but late into the 1980s, she had desires to begin her own wine project. The Chappellets wanted Cathy’s focus to be on their wines, so they eventually parted ways.
Corison Wines was started in 1987 while Cathy was still at Chappellet, but the winery didn’t claim its own estate vineyard until 1995 with the purchase of the Kronos vineyard. Four years later, their own winery was built on the estate. In 2015, Cathy added the Sunbasket vineyard to her holdings. Sunbasket Vineyard was originally planted in the early 1950’s by the legendary winemaker, André Tchelistcheff.
Why I am excited about this wine
Beginning in the 1990s, Napa valley floor wines started their charge towards over-extraction and sky-high alcohol levels. It takes real care and attention to be able to balance the ripeness of Napa with elegance and restraint. Cathy’s wines show how beautiful and reserved the famous vineyards that Tchelistcheff believed were the future of Napa could be.
“...long on style, the latest from Corison runs a predictable course that should be familiar to all fans of the winery. It aims successfully for finesse and steers well away from the lavishly oaked, high-ripeness, blockbuster model favored by a good many Cabernet makers... this is a deliberate, very carefully measured wine that hits the mark smartly as far as keen varietal identity goes, and it capably proves that richness and grace are not mutually exclusive.” - Connoisseurs Guide to California Wines.
“Cathyy Corison is my heroine. She makes such great wine - the essence of Napa Valley minus the bludgeoning force, plus a sensible price tag.”
Check out this incredible podcast with Cathy here: Cathy Corison on The Taste with Doug Shafer