Palate
Capturing the bold personality of a vineyard high up on the Howell Mountain plateau, this very limited bottling of 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is rich and powerful, revealing deep, highly extracted blackberry, cassis and plum character. Its saturated color and complex nuances of baking chocolate, earthy forest-loam, dried rose petal, bay laurel, and espresso reveal its sourcing of vines rooted in iron-laden, red volcanic loam soil. The muscular tannins are dynamic and chewy, and amply support the expansive flavors through the persistent finish.
Growing Conditions
The 2013 vintage surpassed even the highly touted 2012 vintage in grape quality. A winter with very low rainfall was followed by a dry, warm spring and summer. These factors resulted in balanced vine canopies, good fruit set and small, concentrated grapes. Perfect weather throughout harvest fostered intense, beautifully balanced and expressive wines.
Bottling
Bottled without fining.
Winemaking
The hand-harvested grapes were lightly crushed into stainless steel tanks, and then the must was cold soaked for gentle extraction before fermentation began. To soften tannins, we allowed the wine to ferment slightly warmer (90 degrees F.) than usual and to complete fermentation in French oak barrels.
Aging
Barrel Aging: 21 months. Four rackings naturally clarified the wine.
Food Pairing
Matches boldly flavored foods, like strip loin steak with wild mushrooms and roasted fingerling potatoes.
