2003 Red Winery Cabernet Sauvignon
92 Points by the Wine Enthusiast. Estate grown and bottled in the Alexander Valley. This 100% Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a few acres on the Red Winery Road Vineyard’s upper slope. The grapes hung on the vine longer than anything else in 2003. We harvested this block on October 30th. After a 5 day cold-soak and an extended maceraton period, the wine was pressed and sent to barrel, 100% new French, where it aged for 22 months. Our lone Single Vineyard Reserve bottling from 2003 is big, yet balanced, with fully developed flavors and velvety tannins. The signature characteristics of the Alexander Valley–mint, cassis, and dusty cocoa–are highlighted by a juicy, red fruit acidity in this age-worthy limited bottling. Only 150 cases produced.
2003 Merlot
Estate grown and bottled in the Alexander Valley. This single vineyard Merlot comes from a few acres on the northern edge of our Red Winery Road Vineyard. It was harvested on October 30, more than a month later than the Merlot from the same block of this vineyard was harvested in 2002. It was given a twenty-one day extended maceration and was aged for eighteen months in 40 percent new French oak, then blended with eight percent Cabernet Sauvignon from the same vineyard. This wine is even more atypical of California Merlot than was the 2002. It is dry and spicy, deeply colored, with almost aggressive tannins offset by delicate flowery aromas and a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg from the French oak. We produced only 450 cases of this Merlot. Only 20 cases remain avaliable for purchase.
2003 Cabernet Sauvignon
Estate grown and bottled in the Alexander Valley. The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon is made from a combination of grapes from our Pyramid Vineyard and the upper block of our Red Winery Road Vineyard. Unfined, the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon should be very long lived.
At the same time, this wine is more accessible now than our 02 Cabernet Sauvignon was at the same age. The blending of fruit from the two very different vineyards provides improved structure; a remarkably ideal fermentation and a touch of Merlot results in smooth tannin and a lively aroma. Flavors of blackberry, cherry, and chocolate abound.
2002 Merlot
This is not an easy, jammy Merlot. It is balanced, dry, and spicy, with good color and arresting, complex fruit. The nose has a lovely wildflower character, and the French Oak barrels give a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg on the palate. 400 cases produced. Only 5 cases remain available for purchase.
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Estate grown and bottled in the Alexander Valley. This single vineyard Alexander Valley Merlot from our Library collection came from the northern edge of our Red Winery Road Vineyard. It was harvested three days after our Cabernet Sauvignon, on September 23. It was pressed after eight days on the skins, and aged for 20 months in 45 percent new French oak.
2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
Estate grown and bottled in the Alexander Valley. The result is a great synergy of new oak and fresh fruit. The wine’s cocoa and mint character is complimented by vanilla flavors from the American barrels. Powerful fruit and supple, yet pronounced tannins make this wine accessible now, but also an excellent candidate for aging.
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This is a single vineyard Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, harvested from a few acres on the steep, shale slope of our Red Winery Road Vineyard.
After a series of three heat spikes, the grapes were picked on September 20, pressed after seven days on the skins, and sent to barrel in 40 percent new, air-dried American oak for 20 months. The final blend contains four percent Merlot.