Nose

The 2014 Diamond Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon offers inviting aromas of blackberry, black cherry, tobacco and sage spice.

Palate

The full-bodied, plush mouthfeel has layered flavors of boysenberry, briar patch, with a unique wild floral note. The is a big wine with ripe, round tannins well-integrated into the overall balance of the wine. Inky and complex, this wine continues to evolve with time in the glass.

Growing Conditions

2014 was a beautiful vintage for the Napa Valley along the lines of the recent outstanding vintages of 2012 and 2013. Although California’s continued drought brought another dry winter, the growing season started with a warm, dry spring and relatively early bud break. Summer temperatures remained mild and consistent with even, warm temperatures throughout. The overall quality and expressive fruit characteristics make this an outstanding vintage.

Winemaking

After being hand harvested and hand sorted upon arrival at the winery, the grapes were fermented on the skins for 10-15 days with regular pumpovers to extract color and flavor. The wine was then gently pressed, racked and aged for 19 months in 100% French oak (67% new). Winemaker Harry Hansen made 15 barrels of this concentrated and complex Cabernet Sauvignon. The final blend is 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petit Verdot.

Appearance

Dark ruby color