Why it matters
The producer
Milton and Barbara Eisele purchased the 162 acre property in 1969 and gave it the Eisele Vineyard name. Daphne and Bart Araujo acquired it in 1990 and stewarded it for 23 years. Pinault became the estate's steward in 2013.
The Araujos introduced organic farming, embraced Biodynamic principles and built the property's first winery with temperature controlled caves.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Simmons Creek and an eastern tributary spread volcanic cobbly soils from the Palisades across an alluvial fan. The ground drains well, and the vineyard produces low yields of concentrated fruit.
Cooling northwestern winds through Chalk Hill Gap and deep groundwater help the vineyard withstand climatic pressure. These conditions support consistency in quality from the site.
Wines to know
The range in view
Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a Cabernet wine. Altagracia is the more immediately approachable estate Cabernet expression, with refined texture, freshness, balance and ageing potential.
The two wines come from geologically distinct parts of the estate. The range therefore holds two Cabernet expressions with different vineyard origins and different positions in the glass.