Nose
Open, forward and intensely perfumed aromas of cassis, boysenberry and warm raspberries dominate the nose of this ripe, fruit-driven Cabernet, with undercurrents of vanilla, sweet earth and anisette.
Palate
Texturally the wine opens with soft, delicate fresh flavors of sweet crushed dark cherries, evolving into darker notes of cocoa, vanilla, and a hint of warm toasty oak. Velvety, fully complexed tannins coat the mouthfeel as though the wine is draped in heavy satin. The wine continues to evolve and add layers and dimensions of flavor as it spends time in the glass, and a description of the wine can only provide a snapshot of that evolution.
Growing Conditions
The 2009 growing season began after a winter of close to normal rainfall, and with a welcome absence of the memorable spring frosts of 2008. The favorable conditions in the spring produced even, uniform vine growth, leading to a successful outcome to the critical bloom period. In many of the blocks at the JJ Cohn Estate, the crop load would have been excessive, and a focus was to bring the crop down to a level where ideal ripeness could be achieved. This process involved multiple passes through the vineyard to remove shoots and individual clusters, with an eye towards uniformity. The summer produced almost ideal growing conditions, with enough heat to develop the crop to maturity, but without any damaging temperature spikes. The result was perfectly and uniformly ripe fruit that was harvested at its absolute peak, just ahead of the mid-October rains.
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon was produced entirely from grapes grown on the J. J. Cohn Estate in Rutherford, Napa Valley.
Harvest
Harvested between September 28 and October 12, 2009.
Bottling
Bottled without fining or filtration.
Winemaking
The wine was fermented in small lots, then judiciously blended to create this complex offering.
Aging
The wine was aged in 90% new French oak barrels for approximately 21 months.
