96pts The Wine independent

The single-varietal 2021 Sleeping Lady Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple in color. Scents of wild blueberries, plum preserves, and blackcurrant jelly spring from the glass, leading to wafts of forest floor and iron ore. The full-bodied palate delivers impressive tension, with firm, grainy tannins supporting the crunchy black fruit flavors, finishing with a real skip in its step. 

94pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

From a parcel toward the south end of the vineyard and some slightly deeper, richer soil, Amulet Estate's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Sleeping Lady Vineyard features seductive, harmonious notes of ripe cherries and baking spices. It's medium to full-bodied, with a rich, silky feel on the palate and an elegant, lingering finish.

94pts Jeb Dunnuck

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Sleeping Lady Vineyard comes from a cooler site in Yountville that's producing some seriously good wines today. All varietal and brought up in 60-70% new oak, it has a perfumed, lively nose of red and blue fruits, sappy herbs, and spring flowers, with nicely integrated chocolaty oak in the background. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, focused, structured Cabernet Sauvignon with an old school-like sense of tannins and acidity (which is common from this vineyard). This terrific, impressive 2021 deserves 4-6 years of bottle age and will impress over the following two decades.

93pts James Suckling

Attractive aromas of purple fruit, violets, crushed walnuts, pine wood and graphite. Medium- to full-bodied with fine tannins that are slightly chalky in texture. Succulent and velvety with hints of bitter spices and dried herbs at the end. Better after 2025.

Winemaker's Notes

The 2021 Sleeping Lady Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple in color. Scents of wild blueberries, plum preserves, and blackcurrant jelly spring from the glass, leading to wafts of forest floor and iron ore. The full-bodied palate delivers impressive tension, with firm, grainy tannins supporting the crunchy black fruit flavors, finishing with a real skip in its step. 160 cases.

Vineyard Notes

SLEEPING LADY VINEYARD, named for the distinctive hillside profile resembling a resting woman at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountain range

Nestled at the southwest boundary of the Yountville AVA, the 46-acre Sleeping Lady Vineyard offers a captivating blend of history and innovation. This meticulously farmed vineyard traces its roots back to the 1860s or 1870s, with the original Victorian homestead still standing as a testament to its rich heritage.

In 2013, the Bettinelli family acquired the property that they have managed for years, elevating the grapes to exceptional quality, and setting a new standard for viticultural excellence. Under the visionary stewardship of the Bettinelli family, the Sleeping Lady Vineyard has undergone transformative innovations that showcase its potential as a cornerstone of Napa Valley’s future.

“Trust your instincts, pay attention to details, but don’t let that make you overlook the big picture, “The first time I stepped onto the soil at Sleeping Lady, I could feel that it was a remarkable place for growing great wine, and I never discount the way a place makes me feel.”, Larry Bettinelli.

Winery Notes

'The word “amulet” comes from the Latin word amulētum, which means “an object that provides good fortune” or a good luck charm.

More than a talisman, the true mark of the Amulet Estate portfolio is a nod to the pioneering spirit of early Napa Valley viticulture and a deep respect for the land. Sourced from carefully selected vineyard sites, each single vineyard varietal is an elegant expression of Napa Valley terroir.

The Amulet Estate portfolio features six exceptional wines, sourced from five distinct vineyards, each showcasing a unique terroir. The ‘AE’ wines, our Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon, provide a refined introduction to Amulet Estate, embodying the essence and approachability of Napa Valley. Our Amulētum Assemblages—Valley Vineyards and Hillside Vineyards—celebrate the region’s diverse terroirs, with the Valley Vineyards reflecting the richness of the valley floor and the Hillside Vineyards capturing the expressive character of the elevated sites. The Estate Blanc, crafted from carefully selected Sauvignon Blanc clones, and our Proprietary Red Wine, a distinguished blend of the finest barrels, demonstrate our commitment to purity, finesse, and balance. Each wine in our portfolio stands as a tribute to Napa Valley’s heritage, crafted with profound respect for the land and an unwavering dedication to excellence.

Our approach to winemaking and hospitality encourage continued growth and graceful evolution. Our attention to detail in the vineyard coupled with a gentle winemaking philosophy allow us to produce wines with elevated purity that reflect the place the grapes were grown.'