2016 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

RESERVE

WINEMAKING NOTES

Rich, lush and structured, the 2016 vintage displays intense aromas of black currant, cassis and crushed violet. This wine is velvety with a smooth, lingering finish of herbal notes, vanilla and cocoa. Enjoy this wine now with a grilled porter house, rack of lamb, and a winter vegetable roast or lay a few bottles down in your cellar to enjoy in 4 to 6 years.

FOOD PAIRINGS

Enjoy this wine now with a grilled porterhouse, rack of lamb and roasted vegetables, or lay a few bottles down in your cellar to enjoy in 4 to 6 years.

HISTORY

Visitors to the winery often ask what "Reserve" Cabernet means to us. It's simple. Reserve means the winemaker's careful blend of individual Cabernet Sauvignon lots made from time tested, meticulously farmed sections of some of the very best vineyards in Alexander Valley. Select areas within each vineyard are hand harvested individually, fermented separately and aged in the finest French oak barrels. After about six months, each lot is tasted and graded and only the Cabernets that display depth, richness, intensity, and age worthiness are considered for Reserve Cabernet. The 100% Cabernet blend is then assembled, and the wine is returned to barrels to facilitate flavor integration. The wine is aged an additional 14 to 20 months, depending on the vintage, before bottling.

THE VINEYARDS

The 2016 growing season was about as close to ideal as we couldve asked for. We received an average amount of rain over winter, with only one big storm in early March that topped off soil moisture. Spring was pleasant, so the vines got off to a great start. Average temperatures continued through summer with the occasional heat spike that Cabernet seems to love. Warm temperatures continued through the fall which meant harvest started about a week earlier than normal. Harvest kicked off September 24th and ended around October 11th under ideal conditions.