Tech Notes
Yield: 1.75 tons per acre
Harvest: October 1st-November 15th
Numbers @ Harvest: 22.9° Brix, 3.38 pH, 6.5 grams acidity
Cepage: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec
Barrel Regimen: French-33% new; aged 24 months in barrel
Bottling: August 2012; no fining or filtration
Alcohol: 13.5%
Tasting Notes
Release Date: Spring 2014
2010, as it is entering into the marketplace, is revealing a different style for California. The spring was emphatically wet and cold. Late bud break and subsequent vine development pushed the harvest date way into October. This is significant because Cabernet that ripens this late in the fall is creating nuance rather than power. We envisioned an old-world Bordeaux vintage and that was what we made.
We compose this wine from many local vineyards: our vines at Mount Eden, Domaine Eden and Tollgate as well as House Family are in Saratoga. In addition, we include McCarthy and La Rusticana D’Orsa vineyards in Los Gatos. This master blend (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec) is a reflection of our small pocket of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Youthful aromas of cassis, leather, and currant are enticing. The palate is deceptively lithe yet with penetrating, nuanced blackberry, sage and forest floor flavors. Medium-long on the finish with an overall expression of harmony and balance, this Cabernet is a lovely reflection of a cool year in a cool area.
Aging potential is mid-term: 7 to 15 years.
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