This 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon wine is our inaugural vintage from grapes that were grown in Craig’s backyard in the Sonoma Valley. This wine is our first estate bottling from 2100 vines that we planted in 2002. We are well aware of how incredibly challenging it is to make really good wine. When you add in the dimension of developing a premium vineyard from an empty field, you gain a new respect for those in this business who manage Estate only projects.
This vineyard is planted in tight spacing at 6.5’ x 3.5’ to force the vines to compete for water and nutrients. Stressed vines produce superior, more complex fruit and allow us to drop extra fruit to increase concentration.
Some early barrel tasters recommended that we designate this wine as the “Blueberry Ripple.” Extremely concentrated blueberry, brambleberry and a touch of mint from the stand of eucalyptus trees lining one edge of the vineyard mark this wine with medium grained tannins and a smooth mouth feel.
Delicious and a great first effort with this fruit!