1996 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 1.5L
1996 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 1.5L
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Wine Specs
Wine Specs
Appellation: Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley – Estate Grown & Bottled
Élevage: 22 months in 100% new French oak
Winemaker’s Comments
Winemaker’s Comments
Good color with deep ruby-garnet hues and nice concentration. Sweet perfume aromas of blackberry and cassis are surrounded by spicy oak tones and a hint of red apple skin. The attack is polished and silky, exhibiting nice integration of oak and fruit with a lovely interplay of ripe cherries, cocoa and spices. The flavors persist with an elongated finish that slowly fades from the palate. Excellent balance and structure connecting the brightness of mountain fruit with the mellowness of maturity. Decanting 30 to 60 minutes prior to service opens the wine nicely and allows the layers of flavors to fully express.
Vineyards: La Perla 64%, Chevalier 29%, Alba 4%, Miravalle 3%
Additional Notes
Additional Notes
Unseasonably warm winter coupled with lots of moisture brought on an early bud break. This was followed by a fairly cool spring, and intermittent rain during the May bloom period causing some reduction in crop. What started as a cool summer in June turned into a warm one with four heat spells in July and August that brought early verasion and hastened the ripening process. A dramatic cooling trend in late August continued into September, slowing sugar development and allowing flavors to catch up. Harvest proceeded steadily with an ideal combination of cool nights, early morning fog, and warm afternoons.