1881 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Produced by Jean-Charles Boisset as part of the Boisset collection, the winemaking team includes head winemaker Thane Knutson with consulting by Philippe Melka and winemaking support from Stephanie Putnam.

1881 Napa is a wine brand and also refers to the 1881 Napa Valley Wine History Museum located next to the Oakville Grocery. This historic building also houses the Oakville Wine Merchant which offers a selection of over 60 wines from Napa Valley producers including select 1881 Napa wines. The Oakville Wine Merchant and museum are located next door to the Oakville Grocery a few hundred feet north of the Oakville Cross Road and the Highway 29 intersection. This is prime vineyard terroir with nearby neighbors including Opus One, To Kalon Vineyard and Robert Mondavi Winery. Napa Wine Co, one of the larger custom crush facilities in the valley is located on the other side of Oakville Cross Road, a short walk from the Oakville Grocery.

The wines and the museum are the creation of vintner Jean-Charles Boisset, (originally from Burgundy France). The family holdings, Boisset, La Famille des Grands Vins are among France’s largest wine companies, and they are the largest producer in Burgundy. Jean-Charles’ father, Jean-Claude founded the family business in the 1960s with Maison Vougeot (Vougeot is a very tiny village about 30 minutes south of Dijon).

Jean-Charles first visited California at age 11 with his father and grandfather – they visited a number of northern California missions on that trip including select wineries. One of their winery stops was Buena Vista, California’s oldest winery which Jean-Charles now owns. As his father began to step back from running the company, Jean-Charles and his sister Nathalie began to take over the business and expand their operations. They began investing in vineyards in eastern Canada and then in California.

Today Jean-Charles oversees the USA based Boisset Collection (with more than 20 wineries under their ownership), along with several prominent wineries in the Napa/Sonoma region including California’s oldest winery, Buena Vista and the Pinot Noir powerhouse, De Loach Vineyards (both in Sonoma County). The Boisset Collection also owns Raymond Winery and several opulent luxury lounges in Napa and San Francisco.

Jean-Charles’ professional and personal life is built around wine – his family has been in the wine business in France for decades. He is also married to Gina Gallo of GALLO, the largest wine producer in the United States. Jean-Charles and Gina own the hillside home that Robert & Margrit Mondavi used to live in (a fairly hidden hilltop location north of the city of Napa). 

The inaugural vintage of 1881 Napa was from 2016 and focused on 100% varietal Cabernet Sauvignon from the majority of Napa’s sub appellations along with a Chardonnay and a sparkling wine. The wine selection and varieties vary from year to year but focus on sub appellation selections. 

Aromas elegantly rise from the glass of the 1881 Napa 2023, revealing notes of lively red and black currants, delicate hints of leather, cedar, and spice, lending the wine an enchanting earthy charm. The palate unfolds with a burst of flavors, dominated by juicy blackberry and currant, accompanied by a subtle layer of indulgent brown sugar. The lingering finish is both prolonged and silky, balanced by luxurious, smooth tannins.