Reaching New Heights | 2022 Seven Apart Expedition Cabernet Sauvignon Release

In the rugged terrain of Atlas Peak, a group of intrepid explorers set out on a mission. With eyes wide open and curious minds, they ventured forth, unafraid to tread the path less beaten. They scaled the steep slopes of a mountainous vineyard, their feet crunching on the volcanic soils below, their hands carefully examining clusters of grapes that had thrived in this challenging environment.

It’s from this adventurous spirit that our Seven Apart Expedition wine was born and named. For those just embarking on their Seven Apart journey or already well on their way alongside us, Seven Apart Expedition is where it all begins. A blend of valley floor richness and high-elevation finesse, this Cabernet Sauvignon blend offers an accessible yet complex spectrum of flavors and textures.

Now, as we unveil the 2022 Seven Apart Expedition, we invite you to join us on this continuing exploration to discover the nuances that make this latest vintage truly exceptional.

A Journey Through Time

The Seven Apart Expedition holds a special place in our hearts. It is the only wine in our collection that has graced every vintage since Seven Apart’s inception. Even in 2020, when the Glass Fire threatened Napa Valley and caused smoke taint to much of the region’s harvest, the Seven Apart Expedition rose like a phoenix. Our team had completed the harvest from our Base Camp vineyard before the fires arrived, allowing us to craft a Seven Apart Expedition wine that year (in reduced quantities due to no fruit being used from the Stags Ridge vineyard). This 2022 release marks the fifth chapter in the Seven Apart Expedition’s storied lineage, each bottle a testament to the dedication and skill of our winemaking team.

Morgan Maureze, our winemaker, reflects on what makes this wine so unique: “The Seven Apart Expedition is particularly special because it represents the beginning of a journey. We have endless possibilities for the blend, creating a wine from two very different and exceptional locations. The result is a harmonious wine that beautifully showcases the characteristics of both vineyards, resulting in a uniquely complex experience.”

Rich, Ripe Fruit

Our Seven Apart Expedition bottling highlights the quality of the vintage, with fruit from our estate vineyards—Stags Ridge and Base Camp—and our partner growers. Following the 2021 harvest, we embarked on a significant replanting of the Base Camp vineyard, a project that will enhance the long-term quality of our wines. During this period, from 2022 through 2025, we’ve relied on select fruit from our trusted partner growers to maintain the exceptional standards of our Seven Apart Expedition blend. This collaboration ensures that, even as we nurture our new vines, the Seven Apart Expedition continues to deliver a wine with a perfect balance of valley floor richness and high-elevation finesse.

While Stags Ridge vineyard is composed mostly of solid red volcanic rock, Base Camp has been recently replanted, adhering to strict organic farming practices and will be certified within three years. These different terroirs allow Morgan and Cellar Master Jorge Lopez to actively pick and choose the parcels of fruit they want to include in the final blend.

Of course, growing the fruit during the 2022 season was no small feat. A dry winter gave way to a spring touched by frost, followed by a summer of extreme heat. These conditions naturally led to smaller berries and lower yields, with fruit ripening earlier than in typical years.

Yet, as often happens in viticulture, challenging conditions can bring out the best in extreme mountain-grown Cabernet. Morgan notes, “These weather patterns allowed the grapes to develop rich, ripe fruit profiles throughout the valley. Blending the 2022 Seven Apart Expedition led to a wine with a perfect balance of valley floor richness and higher elevation generosity, yet with finessed ripeness.”

A Powerhouse Trio

While all Seven Apart wines are predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, the Seven Apart Expedition tends to draw a little outside the lines. While past vintages have included small percentages of Merlot, the 2022 Seven Apart Expedition is a masterful blend of only three varieties: 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot.

“While you might not think the smaller percentages of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot make much of a difference, they are the real secret to the sauce,” explains Morgan. “Where Cabernet Franc adds aromatic complexity and a hint of herbal freshness, Petit Verdot injects a dark inky color, taking it to the next level.”

Our meticulous winemaking process begins with hand-harvesting at night, ensuring the grapes arrive at the winery cold to minimize oxidation. Slow fermentation at cool temperatures preserves the wine’s delicate aromas, followed by malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels for softness and stability.

After 18 months of aging in 74% new French oak, the wine emerges as a true expression of its terroir.
Morgan shares an interesting insight into the Seven Apart Expedition’s unique character: “One aspect that sets Seven Apart Expedition apart from our single vineyard wines such as Seven Apart Basalt and Seven Apart Shale is its tannin structure, which allows for earlier bottling as the wine is more approachable.”

A Sensory Journey

While this vintage bears the signature of our former winemaker, Andy Erickson, Morgan Maureze played a crucial role in its final composition. Morgan explains, “I wanted Andy to participate in the blending sessions with us for several reasons. Firstly, these wines are like his children, and I wanted him to see them through to completion. Secondly, he knew these wines intimately, having watched them evolve and age. His vision for their direction was invaluable.”

This collaborative approach ensured a seamless transition and a deeper understanding of the wines, the vineyards, and the vision that makes Seven Apart unique. The result is a sensory delight. The Seven Apart Expedition’s deep red color with violet hues at the rim hints at the complexity within. Intense aromas of ripe black cherries, summer strawberries, and milk chocolate mingle with fresh plum skin, toasted fennel seed, and graphite.

On the palate, the wine greets you with soft, lush tannins balanced by well-integrated acidity. There is a rush of flavors on the palate, including well-integrated oak, cocoa nib, vanilla, black licorice, bay leaf, and black currant. The texture is incredibly fine-grained and silky, while the fruit at the wine’s core expands and lengthens on the finish.

This youthful wine offers immediate pleasure but also promises rewarding development with age. It’s approachable upon release, especially with an hour of decanting. However, those with a little more patience will find that cellaring for 5-8 years will reveal a slightly developed bottle bouquet. The wine has the potential to age gracefully for 25 years or more.

With only 740 cases produced, availability is exclusive to members of our Seven Apart allocation list. As always, we invite you to join us on this journey and enjoy Napa at its peak.