Nose
This wine offers red and black fruit aromas with a hint of warm spice notes.
Palate
Opulent and full-bodied complemented with an elegant, long and silky finish.
Growing Conditions
Following a very cold November through February, the weather warmed up in March. Rainfall was well below average through the winter months with the exception of February and virtually stopped at the beginning of March. In fact, the Oakville weather station recorded a total of just three inches of rain between the beginning of March and end of September; 2007 was the first of two consecutive drought years. Budbreak for Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley took place in and around the second week of April and the flowering occurred in late May. There were more days with below-average temperatures than above during the moderate, even slightly cool, summer months and only a few mostly short heat spikes, the most significant of which were in mid-June and at the end of August and beginning of September. The summer witnessed relatively few 90+-degree days—much less 100. Following a few very hot days at the end of August and beginning of September, much of September was quite cool, and this turn of events slowed down the final stage of ripening and resulted in a later Cabernet harvest than had been expected. Another few very warm days toward the end of the month helped to finish off the ripening process in most sites without causing a serious drop in acidity, and most growers were able to pick at their leisure. Cool, showery conditions in the second week of October caught some mountain fruit hanging, but by then the valley floor had mostly been harvested. Even the later pickers mostly finished under good conditions, and for the most part the precipitation did not swell the berries.
Aging
It is aged and blended to perfection in 100% French Oak.
