Araujo Estate was established when Bart and Daphne Araujo acquired the celebrated Eisele Vineyard in 1990, beginning a 23 year period in which the estate became recognised as one of Napa Valley’s great Cabernet Sauvignon producers. Located just east of Calistoga at the foot of the Palisades Mountains, Eisele Vineyard had already established an exceptional reputation, with vineyard designated Cabernet produced here since 1971. The Araujos extensively replanted the vineyard, introduced organic farming in 1998 and Biodynamic practices from 2000, and built the estate winery and caves. In 2013 the property was acquired by the Pinault family’s Artémis Domaines, owners of Château Latour, and is today known simply as Eisele Vineyard.

Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard was Araujo’s flagship wine and is one of the benchmark Cabernet Sauvignons of Napa Valley. The vineyard’s well drained, rocky alluvial soils naturally restrict yields, producing small, intensely flavoured berries. The resulting wines combine remarkable concentration with elegance and freshness, typically showing cassis, blackberry and dark cherry alongside cedar, graphite, spice and a distinctive mineral character. Despite their depth and power, the finest examples are notable for their silky texture and balance rather than sheer weight, with a proven ability to develop beautifully for several decades.  Superb with rib of beef, fillet steak, roast lamb or venison, particularly with wild mushrooms, truffles or a rich red-wine sauce.

"Deep garnet/black core with thin deep brick rim. Again, the nose is quite broody at first: minerals, Morello cherry and liquorice, then a touch of coffee developing. An opulent entry, more lavish than the 1994 with pure sweet black cherries, raspberry and blueberry. This ’96 has vibrant acidity, quite racy, very primal. The focus on the finish is impressive, superb balance but it needs another ten years! Excellent."  Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate, May 2009