SUM & SUBSTANCE
Competence through motivating behaviors.
Proven talent through creative techniques.
Erikson & Caradin has one mission, to be a desirable force in the wine industry and rise to the top. This philosophy requires a well-advised blend of hard work, tenacity and desire. A clear priority on doing what you love equates to a life-well-lived. We strive to show how Cabernet and Chardonnay grown in their individual places, can showcase the most distinctive and alluring characteristics in conjunction with visionary technique.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
It is clear, the importance of soils, climate, and elevation are all factors in producing fine wine. But more importantly, it’s about the location, the handler's skill set, and their desire to expand creative capabilities. This is the core behind all Erikson & Caradin wines.OUR STORY
The original release was in the 2013 vintage, we sold every case exclusively to dear friends and select restaurants across the country. In 2016 we gained access to more fruit and increased the production from 85 cases to 264 cases – a mere 10 barrels from two distinct sites. Today we make eight different designations but remain craft-focused and only produce a maximum of 50 barrels. Throughout the last 15 years of being rooted in the culture and history of the Napa Valley, our business has always stood for nothing less than exceptional wine and the truest expression of the acclaimed AVA-specific wines.OUR WINEMAKING
We are wine lovers and collectors, who set out to procure the very best parcels of Cabernet in the most esteemed regions. There is a standard here and we intend to exceed it. Our winemaker, Kevin Morrisey, believes in the opportunity to pause, explore, and discover the most modern and discerning methods to winemaking, and for us, there should be no exception.
ERIKSON & CARADIN INTRODUCE A NEW LINE
Hazel represents the rock in all our families. The glue that holds everything together. She had a saying, "wield the axe," which, to her, meant to use your inner power to always be moving forward in life. The foundation Hazel instilled in her entire world lives on today. You'll find it in every bottle of our wine.Visit the Hazel & Axe dedicated website for more information!
Ivy & Thistle 2021 NV
Fermented in concrete but aged in 60% New French Oak and 40% 2nd use barrels to allow the velveteen tannins and striking fruit spice to be front and center. Here, we land in a sweet spot, soft and developed with a dynamic and edgy profile. Vineyards: 60% Atlas Peak / 40% Oakville.93+ POINTS - Jeb Dunnuck
Lots of red and black fruits, camphor, leather, and some bloody, iron-like nuances emerge from the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Ivy & Thistle, a medium to full-bodied, ripe, round, nicely textured beauty that has ripe tannins and terrific overall balance.92 POINTS - James Suckling
Aromas of cassis and ripe blackberries with dark chocolate and sweet spices with bark undertones. Full-bodied, deep and creamy with fine, velvety tannins and a long, persistent finish. Attractive now, but better after two or three years.$120 PURCHASE
Craftsmen & Wolves 2021 NV
As in previous vintages, this wine continues to impress with its heavy-duty styling. Almost black in color with forceful aromas of crushed black cherry. The palate is medium plus-bodied with intense, crushed plums infused with dark berry fruit. The palate is striking with life-affirming tension. Expect seamless aging for the next 6-15 years.94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Craftsmen & Wolves which includes 5% Petit Verdot, offers a vivid purple hue as well as a classic Napa Cabernet Sauvignon nose of wild blueberries, currants, iron, and Asian spices, with a kiss of background chocolatey wood. It's medium-bodied, has ripe, present tannins, and a great finish. Coming from two rows of Clone 337 and aged in 75% new French oak, this rocking effort is perfect for drinking over the coming 15 years or more.93 Points - James Suckling
Attractive aromas of purple fruit, hints of licorice, anisette and cocoa. Slightly earthy, too. Full-bodied, succulent and rich with creamy tannins and a firm, lightly chewy finish. Try after 2025.$140 PURCHASE
Lotus & Quill 2020 MSB
This is a Pinot Noir made with the culmination of pedigree and expertise. It’s ridiculously food-friendly, though delicious in its own right. A polished blend of 66% Monterey & 34% San Benito, this Pinot is a nod to Burgundy yet very much Central Coast.Ripe, red berries and cherries, sizzling spice, sweet herbs and a dash of that something magic that makes Pinot the captivating mystery it is. A light touch of French oak gives it the springboard it needs to jump to life on your palate.$54 PURCHASE
Reserve 2018 NV
92 Points - James Suckling
A fragrant nose or dark cherries, dark plums, blackcurrants, brioche, orange peel and licorice. Full-bodied with firm, ripe tannins. Plenty of ripe juicy fruit and sweet-spice notes. Big and creamy.91 Points - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThink sumptuously rich mouthfeel, bottled unfined and unfiltered. Full-bodied in texture, it offers up loads of blueberry, blackberry and raspberry fruit intermixed with some cedar, vanilla and a touch of spring flowers.This 100% Cabernet from Atlas Peak and St Helena. It has über juicy berries and black cherries, crackles of spice and beautifully integrated tannin.Only 19 barrels were produced of which 70% were new tight-grained French oak.$90 PURCHASE
Raptor & Crimson NV NVC
Our non-vintage Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon offers an opulent bouquet of ripe blackberries, dark cherries, and cassis, intertwined with subtle hints of vanilla, cedar, and baking spices.It delivers a rich and velvety texture, with layers of flavors including blackcurrant, plum, and espresso, supported by well-integrated oak and fine-grained tannins. Balanced acidity provides freshness and vibrancy, leading to a long finish with lingering notes of dark chocolate and tobacco. A luxurious and expressive wine that embodies the quintessential Napa Valley style, offering both depth and refinement.$85 PURCHASE
Archer & Thorn 2019
93 Points - James Suckling
Aromas of black cherries, plums, fresh herbs and fresh mint. Medium to full-bodied with velvety tannins. Succulent black fruit with light dried-citrus character. Earthy herbal notes as well.The intensity of this wine is obvious from the moment you pour it. It unfurls in the glass, revealing roasted dark plum and black truffle scents. The mouthfeel defies all my personal expectations: refined acidity, utterly chewable tannins yet silky, a sense of harmony that satisfies my every effort.$90 PURCHASE
Magnolia & Diamonds 2020 SBC
This is a wine made with the culmination of pedigree and expertise. An evolved nose of spicy black cherries and forest floor accompanies its ruby/garnet color. It is layered and rich with sweet tannin, impressive concentration, and a medium to full-body. The cherries, blackberries, spices and oak will evolve to silky sweetness in years to come.$65 PURCHASE
Bloom & Bramble 2021 NV
The 2021 Bloom & Bramble roars from the glass with floral aromas. An extremely vinous offering, it expands to reveal a suave, lush, opulent personality redolent with expressive, exquisitely ripe white fruits.The grapes have been fermented in indigenous yeast and matured for 12 months in 45% new French oak and 55% older oak barrels. Floral, bright yet elegant and buttery rich with zesty citrus and stone fruit flavors, this vintage of Bloom & Bramble Chardonnay is one to whip out when the sun is shining.$64 - Coming Soon
INNOVATIVE SERIES
Many winemakers and growers will tell you that the quality of the wine begins in the vineyard. It is the way in which the variety is grown that has the most profound effect on the quality of the wine.This series explores two different training methods from two different sub-appellations of Napa Valley.Spur pruning (Cordon) is common to see in Napa Valley. There are many different styles of Spur-pruned training methods used to maximize quality and concentration depending on the site where the grapes are grown and are ideal for areas prone to drought (like the Napa Valley).
Bilateral 2021 Oakville
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Oakville is renowned as one of the finest AVA regions of Napa Valley and this vineyard across the street from Screaming Eagle represents the best of bilateral viticultural practices. Truly pristine Cabernet Sauvignon.94 POINTS - Jeb Dunnuck
All varietal from Oakville fruit, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Bilateral has a medium to full-bodied, fresh, nicely focused, balanced style as well as gorgeous cassis fruits, some floral and chocolate nuances, ultra-fine tannins, and an overriding sense of finesse and elegance. I love it.93 POINTS - James Suckling
Notes of dark and blue fruit with hints of kirsch, violets, black olives and pencil shavings. Medium- to full-bodied with compact, fine-grained tannins and creamy texture. Juicy and dark-fruited. Lingering finish.$140 PURCHASE
Quadrilateral 2021 Coombsville
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
From one of the most prized and oldest quadrilateral trained vineyards in the Coombsville AVA of Napa Valley. It’s a landed-that-big-client celebration wine.94 POINTS - Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Quadrilateral is in the same boat qualitatively, yet it comes from the cooler, southern Coombsville appellation. More blue fruits, mint, sage, and sappy herb notes define the aromatics, hitting the palate with medium to full-bodied richness and depth. It s another terrific wine from this team that has terrific purity, balance, and depth.93 POINTS - James Suckling
Notes of dark berries, red licorice, dark chocolate and moist earth. Medium- to full-bodied with velvety tannins. Firm and lightly chewy with a succulent, dark-fruited finish. Balanced and well-made.$150 PURCHASE
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