1962 Charles Krug Cabernet Sauvignon Vintage Selection

Charles Krug’s 1962 Cabernet Sauvignon Vintage Selection opens the window into a much earlier era in the history of Napa Valley, when things were quite a bit simpler than they are today. The 1962 was made by brothers Robert and Peter Mondavi. Based on what I have been able to piece together from various sources, the 1962 was 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, most likely from old, heavily virused vines picked in late October or early November. It was a very rainy year, with 45 inches of total rain, 12 of which fell in October. The finished alcohol was around 11.4%. At the time, the Charles Krug Cabernets were fermented in redwood uprights and aged in used whiskey barrels. As it turns out, 1962 holds considerable significance for the Mondavi family. That year Robert Mondavi travelled to France for the first time and was exposed to the concepts he would use to found the Robert Mondavi Winery a few years later and in time change the course of Napa Valley.