Nose
aromas of an intense red fruit character and the spiciness of mocha, cocoa and nutmeg.
Palate
The flavors seamlessly echo those of its aromas, showing a soft, elegant wine that offers plenty of ripe fruit with a lingering balance of vanilla, cedar and supple, well-integrated tannins.
Growing Conditions
The 1998 Benchland Select Cabernet Sauvignon represents the fourth vintage of this wine. It was produced with fruit specifically selected from the gently rolling foothills (or “benchlands”) of the Mayacamas Mountains on the western side of the Napa Valley. The vineyards’ eastern exposure offers cooler temperatures that allow the grapes to mature slowly while the gravelly loam soil provides excellent drainage.
Winemaking
Our winemaking regimen for the Benchland Select included using the “rack and return” process of draining the fermenting juice off the skins and then returning it to the stainless steel tanks. This procedure greatly reduces the young wine’s astringency by softening its tannins while deepening its dark color. As the wine was fermented dry, it was taste-tested for optimum flavor levels before it was separated from the skins and then aged for twenty-six months in a combination of new (65%) and one year old (35%) French oak barrels.
Aging
26 months in French Oak
