Winery’s first super-premium/prestige cuvée
St. Helena, Napa Valley, winter 2023 — Titus Vineyards announces the release of the 2019 Imperatus. This is a new prestige cuvée, priced at $225.00/bottle, with only 4 barrels (100 cases) produced. The wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from the Sugarloaf Vineyard in the Napa Valley. It was aged for 30 months in 100% new French oak. Tonnellerie Remond was the cooper and the oak was sourced from Bertrange and Alliers.
Winemaker Stephen Cruzan describes the wine as “showy and expansive in the glass with aromas of blueberry, black currant, dark fruit, espresso, milk chocolate, and a vibrant burst of black raspberry. Depth and polish without heaviness fill the palate with tannins that are broad, fine grained with pleasant grip and a note of cocoa powder. The wine is smooth through the finish, vibrancy and freshness filled with lingering berry, tobacco, crème brûlée and a pleasant warm toastiness.” He suggests it will be most enjoyable between 2027 and 2042.
The name Titus Imperatus carries echoes of ancient Rome, where an “Imperatus” was an edict from an emperor—in Titus’ case, to showcase the best of the best Cabernet Sauvignon that drives the Titus Cabernet Sauvignon programs. “Imperatus” is pronounced with the emphasis on the second syllable, similar to “imperative.”
Titus Vineyards has a distinguished history of making exceptional Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, starting with the 1990 vintage. With the 2002 vintage, the winery added a Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon program, which sourced fruit from the winery’s Ehlers Lane estate vineyard near the winery in St. Helena. This new release arrives in time to honor the 30th vintage of Titus winemaking, a tribute to the winery’s identity as a pre-eminent Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon producer.
“For this debut release, we chose to limit the production and aim for the highest quality possible, focusing on concentration, flavor profile, balance, and capacity to integrate with and express top-quality cooperage,” explains founder Eric Titus. The 2019 Imperatus is available on a very limited basis, available only at the winery and on the website.
The winery’s other releases are 2021 Catie’s Corner Viognier ($44), 2021 Sauvignon Blanc ($36), 2021 Zinfandel ($48), 2021 Pinot Noir ($54), 2019 Merlot ($54), 2019 Petite Sirah ($59), 2019 Petit Verdot ($60), 2019 Cabernet Franc ($62), 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon ($65), 2019 Family Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($115), 2019 Malbec ($56) and the 2018 Lot 1 ($89). The winery also offers estate olive oil, at $34/375 ml.
Located at 2971 Silverado Trail North in St. Helena (94574), the winery welcomes guests seven days a week by appointment, with the first availability at 9:30 am and the last tasting at 3:00 pm. Contact 707/963-3235 or titusteam@titusvineyards.com.
