Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage 2001
Color Brilliant dark ruby.
Aroma Blackberry, hazelnut, cedar, leather, chocolate and spices of nutmeg and pepper.
Taste Full-bodied with a concentration of fruit and oak. Again there are hints of cedar and sweet, black cherries with a rich finish and long after-taste.
The Year Even a roller coaster growing season didn't stop this great 2001 harvest from producing beautiful clean fruit. A cold harsh March, and two heat spikes in the 80's, coaxed the vines into an early bloom, followed by a hard April frost which gave cause for concern. Shatter (the percentage of grapes remaining after flowering) occurred as a mixed blessing, and hit Merlot hard. While frost-loosened clousters cost some vines approximately 40 percent of their fruit, that remaining was of spectacular quality. The hottest May on record and the third hottest June (total degree days) indicated harvest would be early. July arrived with temps in the 100's, hitting 114 in Calistoga, which put vines in high gear, and growers faced a premature harvest. Fortunately, August cooled to near perfect, with average highs of 85 degrees followed by chilly nights, the vines were allowed to get back on track. Grapes, particularly reds, settled, extending the all important hang time and producing a matured balanced flavor.
The Wine Conn Valley's Cabernet's are made from 100% estate grown grapes from the vineyards located at the winery site in Conn Valley. The vintage is a blend of numerous clonal varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, each of which contributes to the character of the wine and adds complexitiy. Prior to blending and bottling, the 2001 vintage was aged in the hillside caves located on the Conn Valley Estate.
Harvest October 10-13, 2001 Brix 24.6 pH 3.71 TA 0.58
Aged 19 months in French oak 60 gallon cooperage, 40% new oak.
Bottled January, 2004
Released July, 2004
Varietal 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol 13%
Appellation 100% Estate Grown Napa Valley, California