Wine Notes
Vintage:
2012
Appellation:
Napa Valley
Vineyards:
This blend is made up of two vineyards. Our oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard is on Mt. Veeder at 1400 feet elevation, having a southwest exposure. The soils are uplifted sedimentary clays. This vineyard is owned by Dr. James Konrad and has provided our core Cabernet for more than 32 years! The wine has an intense black fruit profile with mature, structured tannins. Our second vineyard source for the Malbec and Petit Verdot is located on the valley floor in Yountville which provides an ideal climate for both varieties: warm days and cool nights. This Malbec adds color, black fruit aromas and a lush, round tannin profile to the blend while the Petit Verdot adds a high tone, almost floral component, along with big, yet round, rich tannins like the Malbec.
Vintage Notes:
The 2012 growing season started off well with a moderate spring: not too cold or wet, resulting in a “normal” fruit set. The summer was also moderate: warm but not hot. At veraison there was a judicious thinning or green harvest to remove green or pink fruit. The fall heat was also moderate and harvest becan normally and continued normally. No rain! Skin and seed maturity was fully achieved at both vineyard sites. The resulting wines have good color, black fruit profiles, are elegant on the palate, and have fine grain tannins for aging.
Fermentation, & Aging:
The grapes were crushed October 19th. The Brix (sugar) was 25.7 degrees and acid was .60 grams/liter. The must was thoroughly sorted, removing all green “stem jacks”. Fermentation took place in open-top tanks and punched down (piegage) 3 to 4 times per day. Pressing was very gentle, using a traditional wooden basket press. The barrel-aging regime was 25% new and 75% once filled French oak using Chateau-Ferre style barrels that were very tight grain. The staves ewre air dried for 30 months and received a medium toast level. This combination of factors allows the oak to seamlessly integrate with the wine giving a supportive background structure with fine grain tannins, along with toasty oak nuances in the aroma and flavor profiles.