Nose

The 2004 Fortis is awash in aromas of ripe red berries, cherry and blueberry fruit, with
accents of tea, dark cocoa and tobacco hinting at further complexity and potential.

Palate

Medium to full-bodied with superb concentration, sweet cherry and red berry fruit flavors and firm, silky tannins.
The 2004 boasts exceptional length with notes of berry and tobacco leaf rounding out the finish.

Growing Conditions

When crafting a wine of this caliber, the process begins long before vinification. With over 225 acres
of estate vineyards in five different Napa Valley appellations, our dedicated vineyard teams ensure that each block is
given the utmost attention year-round. Through dense plantings, meticulous pruning and canopy management, and
careful hand-harvesting at night, each 25-pound bin of fruit arrives at the winery in pristine condition.The appellation
composition of Fortis will vary year-to-year according to each region’s performance throughout the vintage.

Fruit for
the 2004 Fortis is a selection of 79% Rutherford, 9% Oakville, 9% Carneros, 3% Stags Leap District.

Winemaking

The Fortis blending process represents a series of intense, exhaustive evaluations by Winemaker
Stacy Clark. After undergoing malolactic fermentation, individual lots are selected for their unparalleled flavor, structure
and weight. Subsequent evaluations narrow the field, revealing the crème de la crème of the vintage, this year the final blend
consists of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 9% Malbec and 7% Petit Verdot.

Aging

Aged in 75% new French oak
barrels for 14 months, this wine is a bold reflection of our talented winemaker’s crowning achievement.