2016 Cabernet Sauvignon - Santa Cruz Mountains

Tasting Notes

Loaded with black fruits on the nose (blackberry, black currant, blueberry, dark cherry, and sugar plum) balanced by secondary characteristics of cedar, sandalwood, cinnamon spices, and graphite and juniper berry on the palate. Cocoa nib notes on the finish. Good balance between fruit, acid, and tannin.

Pair with steak, grilled meats, ripe cheeses, roasted veggies with rosemary, thyme and black pepper, cheese-based dishes, cheesy polenta, steak au poivre.

Winemaker’s Notes

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon was produced from grapes grown by Zayante Vineyards (located in Felton, CA) on head-trained, dry-farmed vines. The fruit was hand harvested and gently destemmed without crushing into open top fermenters. Following a 24 hour cold soak multiple yeast were added to the grapes to start fermentation and enhance complexity and structure.  The skins were punched down into the must by hand one to three times per day. Fermentation took place over 9 days. After the grape sugars were fully fermented, the wine was pressed from the skins yielding two 59 gallon barrels including one new French Oak barrel. The wine was aged for 20 months then the three barrels were blended before bottling with 12% Merlot to enhance the body and flavors of the finished wine