Highly Allocated!
Decanter Magazine
98  Cathy Corison has made this single-vineyard designate from Sunbasket Vineyard in the St. Helena AVA since 2015. Aged 20 months in 50% new French oak it is the most powerful Cabernet she makes. Bold and richly aromatic of dark berry fruits, chocolate and cedarwood with a refreshing hint of orchard pit and sandalwood. Full, round and rife with fine-grained chewy tannins, lacy acidity, and a host of pure fruit flavours redolent of cherry, plum, raspberry, and even muddled apricot. For all its brooding qualities on the bouquet, it shows a light and vibrant palate expression with a beautiful saline mineral finish and hints of spring flowers. Impressive for a 100% Cabernet.
 
International Wine Report
97  The 2021 Sunbasket Vineyard immediately captivates with an aromatic profile of ripe blackcurrants, fresh blueberries, and crème de cassis.  These fruit-forward notes are beautifully layered with hints of pencil shavings, fragrant violets, tobacco, savory herbs, and an earthy undertone of wet stone minerality.  On the palate, it is nothing less than stunning, delivering a full-bodied experience with a focused core consisting of beautifully ripe fruit. The texture is enhanced by impeccably polished tannins, while the wine’s structure allows flavors to unfold in graceful, layered waves.  The finish is long and resonant, showcasing both its refined power and graceful finesse.  While this Cabernet is already outstanding, its depth and complexity hint at an even brighter future, ensuring that it will continue to evolve for decades to come.  The is truly spectacular wine that exemplifies Corison’s artistry and dedication to excellence. - Joe D’Angelo, November 2024
 
Another lovely 2021, the Sunbasket Cabernet Sauvignon is the happy result of a small crop of tiny, tasty berries, thanks to winter drought and heat in June. Then a long, moderate ripening season kicked in to promote perfect balance. A hallmark of Sunbasket, raspberry fruit leads the way, joined by notes of plum and blueberry. Heady rose petal and violet perfume is evolving already and baking spices, white pepper and granite minerality add complexity. Velvety tannins contribute to a lush, full feel in the mouth. - Cathy Corison
 
Practicing Organic
Sunbasket Vineyard is a historic Napa Valley site in St. Helena, originally planted in the early 1950s by famed winemaker André Tchelistcheff, who nicknamed it “sunbasket” for the unusually abundant sunshine in the area. The vineyard sits on classic alluvial gravelly loam “bench” soils, ideal for high-quality winegrowing.
Corison Winery has worked with Sunbasket fruit for over 25 years, formerly sharing it with Shafer Vineyards until Shafer became fully estate-based. Corison then began taking all the fruit and, in 2015, purchased the vineyard outright. They immediately converted it to sustainable practices, and it is now certified organic.
Corison released their first estate Sunbasket Vineyard wines in 2017 and regards the site as special for its bright red and blue fruit and elegant aromatics, proudly carrying forward the vineyard’s distinguished legacy.
 
Corison Winery is a small family winery in St Helena, California, founded by Cathy Corison in 1987. Predominately a Cabernet Sauvignon house, Corison's wines are elegant and notably ageworthy, and are held in high regard.
Cathy Corison developed a passion for wine in the 1970s, while studying biology at Pomona College in Claremont, California. After receiving a Masters in Enology at UC Davis, she worked at Chappellet Vineyard, Staglin Family Vineyard, York Creek Vineyards, and Long Meadow Ranch, while launching Corison.
Corison label wines
In 1987 she began producing varietal Cabernet Sauvignon with fruit sourced from vineyards on benchland between Rutherford and St Helena. The Corison Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from three vineyards; Corison also produces two estate single-vineyard bottlings from Kronos and Sunbasket vineyards, both certified organic.
Helios and Corazón
Corison also makes small quantities of estate Sunbasket Vineyard Cabernet Franc under the Helios label. The Corazón range features Gewürztraminer from Moon Mountain in Sonoma, Riesling from Wirz Vineyard in Cienega Valley, and a St Helena Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé.
Over the years a handful of other one-off lots have been crafted by Cathy under one of the Helios, Corazón or Acappella banners.