Memento Mori
Memento Mori is translated from Latin as “Remember That You Will Die”
Our translation is “Remember To Live”
"Memento Mori’s mission is to produce the best Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. We source from only the best vineyards and have one of the most talented winemakers on the planet. Every vintage our singular goal is to craft the best product possible. We will never cut corners. Ever." – Sam Kaplan, Winemaker
"We researched grape sources for Memento Mori over the course of three years. Knowing that land is the key to quality, we considered buying our own vineyard. But we listened to the varied experiences of some of the best vineyard managers, farmers, and winemakers, and our path to creating a wine of unique and extraordinary caliber became clear: we would select and source from the best sites."
"We now source from five of the absolute best vineyards in all of Napa Valley. All vetted over time, technique and by other elite producers. In St. Helena, we chose two Beckstoffer Vineyards (Dr. Crane and Las Piedras). In Oakville, we selected the Weitz Vineyard, Vine Hill Ranch and Oakville Ranch. Each stands on its own and has consistently been the source behind many legendary wines. We blend their unique characteristics--elegance, power, finish, and longevity--to create a perfectly balanced wine that seduces the palate year after year."
Robert Parker 99 Points: “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Beckstoffer Dr. Crane and Las Piedras vineyards, Oakville Ranch vineyard and Weitz vineyard, aged 22 months in 100% new French oak. Very deep purple black in color, it reveals stunning scents of crème de cassis, wild blueberries, blackberry compote and dried mulberries with hints of Chinese five spice, spearmint and unsmoked cigars with a waft of cedar chest. Full-bodied, with a rock-solid structure of firm, super ripe tannins plus seamless freshness, it finishes very long with provocative mineral accents."
Memento Mori wine is named for a life-embracing philosophy born of a deep appreciation for the ties that bind. Each of its three founders has triumphed over adversity and learned to value not only life but the passion and hard work that drive it, making them uniquely qualified to launch an uncompromising brand. The grapes are sourced from Napa's top vineyards and blended to create the best Cabernet Sauvignon possible from Napa Valley. Continuing to seek fruit from premium vineyards, in 2017 they started purchasing fruit from the esteemed Vine Hill Ranch.
In 2018 Memento Mori opened a tasting salon in Napa’s Tannery Bend district (just south of downtown). The brick building dates from the 1920’s and is next to the old wooden Sawyer Tannery building dating from the 1880s.
Visits are highly personalized and are for serious wine collectors and enthusiasts.
