Palate
The 2014 Odette Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District delivers
notes of blackberry liqueur, blueberry cobbler, wild lilacs and incense laced
with underpinnings of crushed rocks and graphite. The full-bodied mouthfeel
is seamless and riveting, revealing the focused layers of intense dark fruit
that collide with an elegant richness and tension that creates an effortlessly
endless finish. Enjoy this wine over the next 25+ years.
Growing Conditions
Tucked into the dramatic palisades of the Stags Leap District, our 45-acre
vineyard nestled at the base of the striking palisades in the Stags Leap
District AVA. The soils consist of Perkins and Boomer gravelly loam providing
structure and power, with finessed tannins and a touch of minerality. The
Reserve vines date back to 1979 making them some of the oldest in the AVA,
and encompassed about 7% of our total production off of the property.
Production: 18 Barrels
Harvest
The 2014 growing season was another year with exceptional warmth and
length, affording us the opportunity to pick blocks individually as they
achieved their peak of flavor and phenolic ripeness. There were a total of 24
passes across the estate vineyard that spanned a two-week period, enabling
each micro-block to be captured at its optimal ripeness. Only three select
micro blocks on our 45-acre estate in the heart of the Stags Leap District
were used in our 2014 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.
Winemaking
Fermentation took place in small 2-3 ton fully-jacketed stainless steel
fermenters after a 48 hour cold-soak at 40°. Maceration lasted 10-16 days at
a maximum temperature of 95°. Malolactic fermentation took place in barrel
and finished up in late winter. The blend was crafted in the early spring of
2015 and allowed to marry together over the next 17 months.
Aging
The wine was
aged in 100% new French Oak for 22 months.
