1998 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
1998 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
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Wine Specs
Wine Specs
Appellation: Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley – Estate Grown & Bottled
Assemblage: Cabernet Sauvignon 91%, Merlot 8%, Caberent Franc 1%
Élevage: 22 Months in 100% new French oak
Winemaker’s Comments
Winemaker’s Comments
The aromas are dominated by a dry flower potpourri bouquet. Red berry fruit pushes through and marries well with the floral notes and hints of tobacco and spice. The attack on the palate is polished, yet incredibly youthful, with a bright acid backbone which accentuates the lively fruit-forward appeal. There is still a good deal of life and future for this wine, and a bit more time is needed to finely polish the tannins and bring it to its peak. A good five years are available in this wine's future, but it is a great food companion right now. I recommend decanting at least 1/2 hour before service.
Vineyards: La Perla 61%, Miravalle 20%, Chevalier 12%
Additional Notes
Additional Notes
After a wet winter, the growing season began late with heavy rain and storms lasting into mid-June. Spring was late with bud break about a month behind the previous year. Intermittent rain during late May and June, right in the middle of bloom, caused “shatter” in many blocks. It is partially to blame for the low yields of 1998 reds. Despite the cool June, the weather warmed up in July, but the grapes remained unusually late developing. Verasion was irregular and ripening came very late – 30 to 40 days later than the previous year. This uneven ripening meant that we often could not pick a whole block at once. Instead, we marked the slower ripening areas of the block, passed over them, then returned. Luckily, the weather in September and October was clear and the grapes ripened fully in the cool autumn weather. We finished picking during the second week of November, over six weeks later than in 1997.
