From the Vine: Cane-pruned, 13-year old Cab Sauv field blend of Clones 4 & 15 (structure & tannin) with Clone 8 (the Concannon workhorse) on AXR (Aramond x Rupestris) rootstock; a mostly dry-farmed hillside vineyard in the north east reaches of Napa County near historic Aetna Springs, handpicked in the early morning of October 31st 2019.
To the Cellar: Crushed & destemmed in advance of a 3-day cold soak to draw out phenolics and stabilize color, then batch fermented in bins with a preferred yeast strain isolated by the Institut Coopératif du Vin. Twice-daily punchdowns for a total three week maceration on the skins, completing primary fermentation before being gently drained and pressed to begin a slow native malolactic fermentation in barrel (mix of newer and neutral French oak) through the following spring.
Ageing: Aged over 36 months, with small fractions of Cab Franc, Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot added at periodic toppings to taste.
For the Table: And taste it does!... the classic Cab qualities of capsicum & cassis, but with an added complexity of blackberry bramble after a summer rain. Its ochre evidences already-graceful aging, ready to enjoy right now but with its best years in the decade to come.
Cases Produced: 80
25.6 °Bx | pH 3.77 | TA 6.4 g/L | 15.3% ABV
