Hundred Acre
Kayli Morgan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
2015
Vintage
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV
Where it is, June 2026
At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2022-2043).
In 2026, the Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 is at peak, entering its fourth year of prime drinking. The 2015 growing season imparted an unusual richness and voluptuousness to the Kayli Morgan site - typically the most floral and silken expression in the Hundred Acre lineup, the 2015 pushes deeper into opulence, with blueberry, dark plum, and cassis concentration layered beneath the violet and dried flower notes that make this site distinctive. Four years into peak in 2026, the luxurious tannins that characterized this wine on release have dissolved into the fruit exactly as the early notes predicted, and the vanilla and mocha notes that developed with bottle age have added a secondary richness to the long finish. This is the most generous Kayli Morgan in the lineup - more immediately rewarding than the leaner, more precise 2016 while sharing the same floral identity. With 17 years remaining in the peak window through 2043, there is no pressure to open a bottle, but in 2026 the wine delivers maximum pleasure with no sacrifice of structure.
The ‘15 Kayli Morgan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.
The warmest, most voluptuous expression of the Kayli Morgan site on record, the 2015 translates the generous vintage into an opulent peak-drinking wine with 17 years still ahead.
Drinking window
Tasting note
Deep, vivid garnet in the glass with a purple-tinged center that signals the richer, more generous character of the 2015 vintage compared to the site's leaner years. The nose is immediately distinctive and lush: blueberry, dark plum, and cassis crowd the aromatic space, joined by sweet cedar, crushed violet, and dark chocolate. The violet and dried flower notes that define the Kayli Morgan site's identity are present throughout, but the 2015 vintage wraps them in more generous fruit than most years provide. On the palate the wine delivers the opulence the nose promises: luxurious tannins that dissolve into the fruit rather than asserting grip, a deep, sustained mid-palate of dark plum and cassis building through vanilla and mocha toward a finish of staggering length. Layers of dried flowers emerge alongside the primary fruit, keeping the wine lifted and aromatic even at its deepest point. The finish sustains for well over a minute, carrying the Kayli Morgan site's signature floral thread through the rich fruit to a slow, satisfying fade. This is the warmest, most voluptuous expression of this site in the Hundred Acre lineup.
The 2015 vintage
The 2015 Napa Valley vintage was the fourth consecutive drought-influenced harvest since 2012, marked by a cold spell during flowering that sharply reduced berry set and yields across the valley. The smaller crop ripened quickly in warm, dry summer conditions, with harvest beginning in August - notably earlier than in cooler years. Wine Spectator awarded the vintage 94 Outstanding points while noting that quality was high but more variable than 2016 or 2013, as the compressed growing season sometimes allowed sugar accumulation to advance ahead of full phenolic development. For producers with disciplined picking decisions, the drought concentration produced wines of exceptional richness and extract. The Kayli Morgan site, which already tends toward aromatic generosity in balanced years, produced its most opulent expression of the decade under 2015's warm, yield-reduced conditions.
About Hundred Acre
Jayson Woodbridge named the Kayli Morgan Vineyard after his daughter, and the site has become the most identifiable single-vineyard expression in the Hundred Acre portfolio: a Cabernet of unusual floral delicacy and silken texture that stands apart from the power-forward style of the estate's Howell Mountain Ark Vineyard. The 2015 vintage gave Woodbridge exceptional raw material at this site - drought-concentrated fruit with natural aromatic intensity amplified by the smaller crop. The winemaking approach favors small open-top fermenters, extended maceration with punch-downs through the cap, and aging in new French oak from select cooperages, allowing the vineyard's aromatic character to speak through a framework of structural support. Annual production remains tightly capped and distributed exclusively through the Hundred Acre mailing list, one of the most sought-after allocations in California.
From the cellar: pair with
Duck Confit with Blueberry and Thyme Reduction
The wine's blueberry and dark plum aromatics harmonize with the berry reduction while the luxurious, dissolving tannins integrate with the rich duck fat without gripping through the lean protein.
Rack of Lamb with Roasted Garlic and Herbed Crust
The wine's violet and dried flower aromatics complement herb-crusted lamb while the generous mid-palate concentration and vanilla notes add richness to the pairing without overwhelming the meat.
Aged Gouda or Aged Mimolette
The wine's opulent, mocha-laced finish and lingering dried flower notes are matched by the caramel and crystalline depth of aged Gouda, creating a pairing of unusual richness and complementary sweetness.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 60-64F (16-18C)
- Decanting
- Decant 60 to 90 minutes in 2026. The 2015 is more open and giving than cooler vintages of this label, with the luxurious tannins already well-dissolved into the fruit. A 60 to 75 minute decant will lift the blueberry, cassis, and violet aromatics and allow the vanilla and mocha secondary notes to emerge fully. Avoid very long decanting beyond 2 hours, which risks softening the dried flower notes that give this wine its distinctive aromatic personality. Serve at 60-64F.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, stored on its side in a vibration-free environment.
The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.
More from Napa Valley, California, USA
Frequently Asked
When is the best time to drink the Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2015?
In 2026 this wine is at peak, entering its fourth year of prime drinking, with 17 years of optimal enjoyment remaining through 2043. The 2015 Kayli Morgan is the most opulent and immediately giving year in the recent lineup, making it accessible and rewarding right now. Unlike the more structured 2016 vintage, the 2015 reached its moment of maximum pleasure slightly ahead of schedule. Those who prefer leaner, more age-evolved complexity can hold through the late 2020s. See [Napa Valley wines](/wines/region/napa-valley) for context on aging Kayli Morgan Vineyard across vintages.
Should I decant the Kayli Morgan 2015 before serving?
Yes, decant 60 to 90 minutes in 2026. The 2015 is more open and giving than cooler vintages of this label, with the luxurious tannins already well-dissolved into the fruit - meaning this wine does not require aggressive aeration to show at its best. A 60 to 75 minute decant will lift the blueberry, cassis, and violet aromatics and allow the vanilla and mocha secondary notes to emerge fully. Avoid very long decanting beyond 2 hours, which risks softening the dried flower notes that give this wine its distinctive aromatic personality. Serve at 60-64F.
What foods pair best with the Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan 2015?
The wine's blueberry and dark plum aromatics, luxurious dissolving tannins, and vanilla and dried flower finish make it an ideal partner for duck confit with berry reduction, rack of lamb with herbed crust, and aged cheeses with caramel notes like aged Gouda or Mimolette. The opulence of the 2015 vintage character makes this wine more versatile at the table than leaner years - the generous fruit concentration can handle richer preparations that might overwhelm a lighter vintage. See [Cabernet Sauvignon wines](/wines/varietal/cabernet-sauvignon) for broader pairing context.
How does the 2015 Kayli Morgan compare to other vintages from this site?
The 2015 is the warmest and most opulent Kayli Morgan in recent memory, reflecting drought-concentrated fruit and the smaller crop that resulted from a cold spell at flowering. Compared to the [Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016](/wines/hundred-acre/kayli-morgan-vineyard-cabernet-sauvignon/2016), which is leaner and more precision-driven, the 2015 leads with generous blueberry, cassis, and violet richness rather than the 2016's tightly coiled mineral tension. Both express the site's signature floral identity, but through very different vintage lenses. Wine collectors who prefer immediate opulence should reach for the 2015; those who prefer structural precision should reach for the 2016.
How long can I cellar the 2015 Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan?
The Kayli Morgan 2015 has a peak window running through 2043, with hard decline not expected until 2052. In 2026 the wine has 17 years of optimal drinking remaining. The luxurious tannins of the 2015 are already well-integrated, meaning this wine will evolve toward more savory secondary complexity as the primary blueberry and cassis develop further. Store at 55F, 60-70% humidity, on its side in a vibration-free environment. See also [Hundred Acre Ark Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2015](/wines/hundred-acre/ark-vineyard-cabernet-sauvignon/2015) for a comparison of how Hundred Acre expresses the same vintage across different single-vineyard sites.