Gagnon-Kennedy 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard, Oakville, Napa Valley

The Gagnon‑Kennedy 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon from Missouri Hopper Vineyard arrives quietly commanding—its first scents are of blackberry and boysenberry, softened by iris and a whisper of clove. There’s a floral brightness under the depth, a signature of a vineyard that balances concentration with lift. 

On the palate, the wine unfolds with poise. Dark fruit is plush without being broad, supported by graphite-laced tannins and just enough mineral tension to keep engagement alive. Spice bears the weight of shadowed warmth—tobacco, underbrush, faint mocha—wrapped in a texture that’s close-knit but not closed. 

Missouri Hopper Vineyard brings specificity. Standing north of Yountville, this Oakville site sits at Napa’s hourglass, where fog lingers longer and temperatures hold even. Its alluvial soils—gravelly loam and sand—force vines to reach, crafting fruit rich in texture and weight but anchored by clarity. 

The 2022 vintage played into that tension beautifully. Split between cooler stretches and warmer stretches, it encouraged fruit to accumulate color and nuance rather than heat alone. The result is a wine that reads Napa’s muscle through a lens of finesse—no ripeness overstaying its welcome. 

There’s history in the vineyard, too. Missouri Hopper’s heritage stretches back to Charles Hopper’s planting in the 19th century, now part of Beckstoffer’s storied heritage holdings that anchor Napa’s elite sites. This bottling wears that lineage lightly, focused on voice over profile. 

This Cabernet is not a showcase—it’s a conversation holder. It speaks when poured, not proclaimed. Open it slowly—over grilled lamb, aged cheese, or simply a moment of quiet before questions start.

Gagnon-Kennedy 2022 Missouri Hopper Cabernet Sauvignon—where legacy, texture, and precision meet on Napa’s ridge.