Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2021
$ 45.00Our rarest wine, the Reserve Cabernet will age at great length and respond to the highest demands for varietal expression. The wine is based on a grape selection identified by long experience as the finest for our growing region, and grown in specially selected small vineyard blocks. It is aged at least a full year in old and new French oak barriques crafted for us in Piemonte, Italy. The sharing of a bottle of this wine contributes an occasion of its own, to pair with any celebration.
Featured profile
FOOD PAIRINGS
The great American hamburger, of black angus ground chuck, seared rare
Garlic-studded roast leg of lamb with rosemary purée
Médaillons of grilled sashimi tuna with seared foie gras
TASTING NOTES
Vigorous body and palate of Cabernet – dark berry, cassis, pepper, coffee, vanilla – with great robustness and length, but also elegant balance. A vintage of fine cellar-worthiness in our rarest wine.
Vinification
VINTAGE FACTORS
Cellar life 25
The season opened in late-March on a note of suspense – early bud-break and frost threats, which were mitigated by our wind machines. Perfectly-timed spring rains then allowed for a superior bloom of the clusters in early June. Ideally, from early July, we received seven weeks of very warm and dry weather. Manual watering took place in some parcels with low water retention and in mid-August we received needed rain. Harvest took place at optimal ripening times between August 14 and September 21. The 2021 weather gifted us with some of the most admirably-balanced wines we have produced, reminiscent of the elegance we saw in Octagon 2009, winner of our 4th Governor’s Cup.
Fermentation
6-8 days on the skins in stainless steel
Maceration
10-12 days
Aging
12 months new and used French oak barriques
Composition
Cabernet Sauvignon 90%, Petit Verdot 10%
Analysis
Alcohol, 13.5%
Residual Sugars, 0.2%
Total Acidity, 0.53%