The story of Eleven Eleven Winery begins with Ellie Anest & Carol Vassilliadis starting as lifelong friends and Southern California transplants that, like many, fell in love with the Napa Valley. They expanded their relationship to include a business partnership focused on real estate investment properties. Their first acquisition was a home surrounded by a 3.5-acre vineyard in the heart of Oak Knoll AVA. “The whisper of this magical vineyard called us to take a chance at producing our own wine.” “Our search for a winemaker led us to one of Napa’s finest - Kirk Venge.” That was the beginning… Eleven Eleven Wines. An advantageous opportunity presented itself when a second vineyard, a 16-acre property also in the Oak Knoll AVA became available. This provided access to several additional grape varieties and allowed Eleven Eleven to expand their portfolio.

The 2020 X∙I Cabernet Sauvignon is the third vintage for producing their proprietary Bordeaux blend sourced from 11:11 & Destin Vineyards in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley. The 2020 Eleven Eleven X-1 Cabernet Sauvignon is composed of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 6% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, aged 22 Months 100% French Oak, 80% New. In the glass the color shows purity with deep garnet, opaque with purple edges. Distinctive aromas of violets, black cherry, plum, blackberry, cassis, and notes of saddle leather, coffee bean, and a whiff of vanilla. The palate is medium-full bodied and expressive revealing lush fruit. There is a good amount of acidity that is well integrated which gives the Cabernet Sauvignon lift and backbone. The wine is well balanced and the tannins are finely grained, giving the wine a smooth texture, with a slight dusty element. I love how this wine feels so delicious in the mouth with an overall excellent weight, leading to a long and lingering finish that goes on and on! The Eleven Eleven Winery is getting into stride in making an exceptional wine of this caliber and quality. I cannot wait to see what Kirk Venge and the winemaking team produce in future vintages!

By Perry Miroballi