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The wine critics are calling the 2001 vintage one
of the very best, a 96 pointer out of 100. And, make
no mistake, we agree that our 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon
is worthy of such praise. The wine is generous, full
and rich on the palate---a very elegant, seductive
and feminine wine with a very long smooth finish.
The aroma is of crushed violets, blackberries and
black currants with an overall palate of deep dark
fruit. Please remember that our Cabernet Sauvignons
are unfiltered and unfined and will throw sediment
with extended aging.
All our wines are estate grown at our winery located
at the very top of Spring Mountain in the Napa Valley
(1,900 foot elevation). Our red wines are aged 100%
in new American oak barrels made from white oak of
Missouri-- which were air-dried for over two years.
Our steep mountain vineyards (up to 35% slope) are
dry-farmed: this centuries-old tradition means there
is no supplemental irrigation for the vineyard---only
what nature provides as rainfall. We believe that dry-farming
allows the vines to come into balance with nature by
sending their roots deep into the volcanic mountain
soil, allowing the vines to mature their fruit as nature
intended. Although this means a smaller yield of grapes,
we are confident that this insures the best quality
grapes.
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AGE OF VINES:
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30 years |
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APPELLATION:
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Napa Valley |
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SUB-APPELLATION:
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Spring Mountain District |
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FARMING:
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dry-farmed mountain vineyards |
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VARIETAL CONTENT:
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Cabernet Sauvignon 90%, Merlot 8%, Cabernet
franc 2% |
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TIME IN OAK:
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25 months in new American oak barrels |
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ALCOHOL BY VOLUME:
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13.5% |
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FINING:
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unfined |
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FILTRATION:
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unfiltered |
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CASES PRODUCED:
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1,712 cases |
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WINEGROWERS & WINEMAKERS:
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CHARLES SMITH & STUART SMITH |
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