2004 Reserve Cabernet

Champoux Vineyard

Release Date: 04-01-07 Alcohol: 14.0%
Residual Sugar: 0.0 Acidity: 0.65, pH 3.72

 

Tasting Notes: Intense concentration of inviting red fruit, plum, cassis, and warm earth balanced by perfumed oak and vanilla aromas. Deep layers of ripe plum, sweet blackberry, and black currant are wrapped by sweet French oak and vanilla spice lingering through the long finish.  

Winemaker's Notes: 2004 was an outstanding year for Washington red wines, with a dominant red fruit character to the vintage. Once again the fruit from Champoux Vineyard delivered the goods. I chose the rotary fermentor, and used Scott Labs D254 yeast to provide extraction, enhanced varietal character, and balance. The blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon was balanced with 5% Cabernet Franc from Champoux Vineyard to provide layers of fruit character, and enhance complexity and finish. The blend was assembled in August 2006 and put into new French oak barrels after aging each lot separately prior to the blending, for a total of 28 months in barrel. The wine was bottled in February of 2007. 315 cases made.