Schweiger Vineyards - 2015 Dedication
Schweiger is a multi-generation winery with a father/son grower/winemaker team who have been working together for over 20 years, truly hands on, family owned and operated winery.
Fred Schweiger cleared the land himself, Andy his son helped plant the vineyard while he was growing up. Their first harvest making wine under their own name was in 1994. Andy has been the only winemaker in their entire history.
How many wineries can boast this: 29 vintages with the same vineyard source, same grape grower, same winemaker/cellar crew.
When Andy started making wine for his dad in 1994, he made it very clear: none of that monkey business blending he did at other wineries, just 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and 100% Merlot. While this is a good expression of their mountain terroir, Andy missed the fun challenge of blending. In 2000, he traded some of his Cabernet Sauvignon fruit for Cabernet Franc from Spring Mountain Vineyards and Malbec from Paoletti Vineyards. From that vintage, He created their first vintage of Dedication. Andy made it in secret and did not tell the rest of the family about it until the night before bottling. He called it Dedication as he had dedicated this first vintage to the four most influential men in his life: his father, his two grandfathers, and his son, Jerry who was born in the year 2000.
Schweiger Vineyards produces ~5,000 cases a year; the following are 100% Estate bottled: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Rose of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Pinot Noir, and Dedication. They also produce two 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wines as single vineyard. Lastly, a small amount of Sauvignon Blanc, where fruit is purchased from a long time family friend in Sonoma County.
The Schweiger tasting room in St. Helena, CA is open 7 days a week by appointment only. It is located 2,000 feet above the Napa Valley at the peak of the Mayacamas Range.
Production: 565 cases
Appellation: Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley
Varietal Composition: 63% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Petite Verdot (43% Estate -Pritchard Hill)
Bottled: May 2018
Barrel Aging: 32 months in 100% New French Oak
Tasting Notes:
Dedication is a testament to Andy's winemaking skill and passion. Each year, this blend evolves to represent the best fruit from their various blocks, creating a true “cream of the crop” wine. They saw 45% less fruit in 2015, making this wine even more limited production than usual. On the nose, the 2015 Dedication is earthy like damp woods in the morning, with waves of strawberry licorice, chocolate raspberries, and cedar.