2000 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County
Vintage
2000
Price
$19
Release Date
October 2002
Appellation
Sonoma County
Availability
Select Markets Nationally
Vineyards
- Alexander Valley - Pusich, Pigoni, Parker Okaya, A
- Dry Creek - Polesky, Lago di Merlo Vineyards
- Sonoma County - Buena Vista, Serres, Rancho Salina
- Mendocino - McNab Ranch
- Central Coast - Shell Creek
Vintage
The growing season of 2000 began with the warmest winter on record, which gave way to a very warm spring punctuated by a record heat spell in mid-June. The warm weather moved us two to three weeks ahead of schedule. A more temperate summer followed, allowing the grapes to ripen evenly. The long, drawn-out cabernet sauvignon harvest yielded extremely high quality fruit giving us wine with tremendous body and texture.
Vinification
Grape lots of all five Bordeaux varietals - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec - from 20 benchland and mountain ranches were individually culled. Some were cold soaked for 3 days at 55 degrees F prior to fermentation for 10 - 20 days at 80 - 90 degrees in open- and closed-top fermenters. Fermentation times for this vintage were lengthened to increase tannins and to extract maximum depth of flavor. The wines were aged, 85% American oak and 15% French oak barrels, for 15 months. Original blends of this wine occurred in the summer of 2001 with final blending and bottling taking place April 2002. Alcohol 13.5%, Total acidity .59, pH 3.61, Residual sugar .03.
Tasting Notes
This is a classically structured, full-bodied, complex Cabernet with a complete range of flavors, soft but full tannin foundation and balanced acids. The color is deep red-purple and the aromas present blackberry, plum and smoked oak. Flavors are of ripe berries, deeply toasted oak and spice completed by a lengthy finish.