Production Notes
Varietal Content
95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot
Harvest Information
Appellation: Rutherford, Napa Valley
Harvest Dates: September 30-October 25, 2011
Average Sugar at Harvest: 24.7° Brix
Cooperage
100% French Oak Château-style Barrels (60 Gallons)
Age of Barrels: 50% new, 50% second vintage
Winemaker Notes
Offering complex aromas of cherry, blackberry, currants, mahogany, tobacco and bay leaf, this is a classic expression of Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon. On the voluptuous palate, flavors of cassis, cherry compote, cocoa powder and cinnamon are underscored by fine-grained tannins and the region’s signature dusty minerality. This is a structured, age-worthy wine that will evolve beautifully over time.
Production
In one of the coolest growing seasons in memory, we benefited greatly in 2011 from our 35 years of experience farming Bordeaux varietals. To counteract uneven vine growth due to unusual spring weather, we did meticulous green thinning. We also gently opened up the canopy to expose the fruit, were judicious in our picking schedule, and sorted meticulously both in the vineyards and winery. The majority of our Merlot came in before the October rains, and due to our quality adjustments the remainder of our fruit fared well until it was harvested. Warm up-valley locations like Oakville, Rutherford, St, Helena and Calistoga were particularly successful, and overall the resulting wines are pure and elegant.