Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2008
Vintage
Mother Nature provided a dramatic vintage in 2008. Due to a dry Spring, vines pushed early and fell victim to one of the longest and deepest frost periods in decades. Shortly thereafter, during bloom, temperatures soared and further damaged the potential crop, resulting in fewer clusters and smaller berries. The Summer season proved cool, but gave us a week of high temperatures around Labor Day that threw the cellar into a breakneck pace with many early-ripening varieties. The season ended with relatively cool temperatures, providing some much-needed hangtime for Cabernet Sauvignon . Overall, the vintage was marked by low yields, yet high quality; the wines are proving to be well-structured, concentrated, and elegant.
Vineyards
Well-established hillside vineyards are the foundation of this wine, giving the finished blend its intense inner core of fruit. The complexity and balance of this vintage was achieved through diverse sourcing.
Vinification
The grapes were hand picked at optimum ripeness. Following destemming, the grapes were stainless steelfermented and received extended skin contact before being transferred to barrels. The wine was aged in small French oak barrels for 22 months (80% new barrels) where the wine completed malolactic fermentation. The wine was racked prior to bottling.
Tasting Notes
With its Bordeaux-like presence, this wine is deep, rich, and lingering. Firm, integrated tannins frame the concentrated, dark fruit (currant, black cherry, wild berry, plum.) Toasty oak and an earthy edge add to the wine’s great complexity.
Press & Acclaim
92 points - 2007 Vintage
"Lots of freshness in this with spices, ripe berries, currants, and chocolate cake. Full and velvety on the palate, with ripe tannins and a long round finish. Lots going on. Find the wine."
- James Suckling, Tasting Report, February 2011 Download PDF
2006 Vintage
"An exceptional value for a hillside Cabernet that's balanced with ripe plum, herbal and cedar notes."
- Bon Appétit, February 2011 Download PDF
Very Highly Recommended - 2005 Vintage
"Medium to medium-dark ruby; attractive, cedary, plumy, cassis and black cherry fruit aroma with a hint of cocoa; full body; forward, rich, textured, layered, slightly herbaceous, dark currant and ripe berry flavors with notes of green olive and sweet oak; velvety mouthfeel; medium-full to full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Good Value. Very highly recommended."
- California Grapevine, December 2008 - January 2009 Download PDF
Technical Data:
• Varietal Composition: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc
• Appellation: Napa Valley
• Alcohol: 14.7%
• TA: 0.61 g/100ml
• pH: 3.62
• Oak Aging: 22 months
• Oak Cooperage: French oak, 80% new
• Production: 3,158 cases
• Bottling Date: August 16, 2011
