Nose
has rich, ripe cherry, cassis and
blackberry fruit aromas.
Palate
Soft tannins and sweet oak combine with a gentle
hint of pepper and spice to yield a full-bodied wine with excellent balance and
a long lingering finish. The four different Cabernet clones give the wine a
multi-layered dimension to the palate. The long growing season at the
Truchard Vineyard in the cool Carneros district yields grapes with deep color
and great natural acidity. The Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard on the Conn
Creek alluvial fan adjacent to Caymus in Rutherford delivers classic mid-valley
fruit and supple tannins and “Rutherford Dust” earth flavors. The Petit Verdot
adds depth to the color and a tannic richness, while the Merlot and Cabernet
franc bring softness and fruit respectively.
Growing Conditions
The 2004 vintage yielded fruit bearing the imprint of an early spring, a slow and steady ripening period that
ended with a fast, hot finish several weeks ahead of traditional harvest timelines. Warm, consistent summer
weather was bracketed by an early spring bud break, and several late summer hot spells, creating growing
conditions that allowed for one of the earliest harvests in almost a decade.
Overall yields were lower than expected and the resulting wines show inky
color, ripe fruit flavors and great natural acidity.
Aging
20 months in 57% French 43% American Oak
Appearance
deep ruby in color
