2002 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County
Vintage
2002
Price
$19
Release Date
July 2005
Appellation
Sonoma County
Availability
Available Nationally
Download
- Wine Notes [pdf]
Vintage
Vintage 2002 started wet, even before the calendar said it was 2002 - we almost had our seasonal average of rain before the New Year - with January and February being unusually dry and typically cold. We had light rain at the end of March that slowed down budbreak but without causing any major problems. Unsettled weather through spring kept things interesting. More cool weather in May extended bloom, which could have caused uneven ripening. At the end of May we were about two weeks behind 2001. Veraison began in late July, later than average, but earlier than 1998 and 1999. Moving into the final stages of the growing season we were in pretty good shape considering that our summer had been fairly mild. 2002 was a vintage won in the vineyard, beginning shortly after budbreak with shoot thinning, and on through the season with crop thinning to balance the vines and eliminate any damaged or delayed fruit. This work by our growers allowed us to bring in ripe, uniform, high quality fruit with intense flavors and nice natural acid levels.
Vinification
Grape lots of three Bordeaux varietals - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc - were blended from several benchland and mountain ranches that naturally yield smaller crops and result in intensely colored and flavored wine. In the winery we used a variety of techniques to maximize extraction while managing tannin levels including cold soaking, pump over/punch down, and varying fermentation lengths and temperatures. The wine was aged in primarily American oak with some French for 15 months. Alcohol 13.5%, Total acidity .57, pH 3.8, Residual sugar .02%.
Tasting Notes
This wine is full-bodied, round, and intensely flavored of cherry, cedar, tobacco, toast, herbs, and blackberry. Enjoy this wine with grilled meats, beef tortillas, BBQ and decadently chocolate desserts.