The Wine
About the Wines
The grapes for the Grasso Cabernet Sauvignon are grown on a 3-acre plot and are located in the Grasso’s estate compound in Napa Valley. The vines are meticulously groomed and cared for by Frank Grasso to ensure the highest quality. “It’s not a secret, Grasso said, a great wine starts in the vineyard.” After several years of producing premium Cabernet Sauvignon grapes for a large Stags Leap winery, Frank Grasso seized an opportunity to start his own label. “I’m putting 20 years of experience for my own label”, Grasso said, “after all a great wine starts in the vineyard”.
The soil is a rocky/cobbly alluvial normally found in hillside vineyards. The vineyard is never tilled but mowed to prevent erosion. Canopy management is constantly worked throughout the growing season. Total yield in the vineyard is limited to 2.9 to 3.5 tons per acre.
The Cabernet Sauvignon is all Estate Grown and aged for 19-24 months in tight grained French and Hungarian oak. Frank orders all barrels, specifying the toast and cooperage. To ensure the highest quality, Frank is personally involved in all aspects of the wine making process. 400-500 cases are bottled each vintage.
Current Vintage Wines:
2006 Olive Ridge Vineyard, Grasso Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Appellation 2006 Cabernet Release Notes
The 2006 Olive Ridge Vineyard Grasso Cabernet Sauvignon is darker and richer than the 2005, with complex layers of cassis, blackberry, baker’s chocolate, caramel, boysenberry, maple syrup and bay leaf. Palate flavors mirror wild berries, cassis, dark chocolate and caramelized French oak. Expect to find big and rich mouth-coating tannins, balanced acidity, and a velvety textured lengthy finish.
2007 Olive Ridge Vineyard, Grasso Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Appellation
The aroma profile has complex layers of plum, baking spices and bay leaf. Palate flavors are deep and velvety with lots of dark fruit, especially plum. Expect to find big and rich mouth-coating tannins, balanced acidity, and a velvety lengthy finish. The wine has great ageing potential. 2007 Cabernet Release Notes
Library Wines:
2005 Olive Ridge Vineyard, Grasso Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Appellation 2005 Cabernet Release Notes
…from Risque Sommelier:
“Loves come and loves go… and occasionally you find someone something that you want to hold on too… Holding is a skill… a discipline… an art to be perfected. “A little now… and a lot later” is RisquÈ’s motto when it comes to retention.
2005 exudes a showy 
garnet… almost black juice with scents of huge chewy oak, tobacco, blackberry, cherry, cedar and a touch of licorice. Opening further, a lovely essence of English toffee is revealed. The huge iron tannic spine structure carries in the mouth more chewy oak, very dark juicy berry and broad leaf cigar tobacco leading to a long finish of smoke and mocha. RisquÈ recommends lengthy decanting to reduce the alcohol content. Having been “barrel aged for 19 months in 66% new tight-grained French and Hungarian oak”, this unfined and unfiltered gem is definitely a keeper and should be added to your wine cellar, as it will benefit from many years to come. A case of this delicious collectable Cab Sav… will certainly satiate the now… but RisquÈ would recommend two… one for now and one for the later. One night stands are built on the here and now… Relationships are built on the long term… This one’s worth your investment of time… a true keeper!!!”
…from Napa Wine Project:
“Their 2005 vintage is a very dark wine, which really opens up the longer you let it sit in the glass. The black cherry aromas move to the palate, which also contains hints of vanilla and mocha. A slight smokiness with touches of oak and cedar continue through to the long finish. This is a very elegant wine, which is meant to pair well with food. Also note the stylish label, which was designed by Frank’s niece. As of press time the best place to purchase this wine is from their website. Visit: www.grassovineyard.com”
All wines are sold here and available at Select Restaurants, Retail Outlets and Internet Stores.
