2008 Reserve Cabernet 750

Color: Opaque purple/ruby core saturated and extracted Aroma: Fleshy black plum and cassis, with a hyper-fruited intensity from extraordinary ripeness. Sweet oak aromas of vanilla, roast nuts, and baking spices. Palate: Dense and mouth-coating with black fruit pleasure and plenty of supporting tannins under a dry, robust mouth-feel.

The 2008 growing season began with a wet winter that warmed up quickly. Mid-March bud-break prompted early concerns about frost. Indeed, frost struck parts of Paso Robles and the rest of coastal California on April 22. Spring continued dry and warm, spiking unseasonably high in mid-May, and then changing weather patterns weekly. These conditions in some vineyards caused “shatter,” also known as “coulure,” with crop loss due to flowers that would otherwise become grapes falling off the shoots. This reduced yields by up to 50% in some vineyards. Summer brought typical consistent warm, dry days with cool nights, and no heat spikes. The mild summer allowed the reduced crop to ripen evenly, and picking was determined by flavor profiles in the individual vineyards. All grapes were hand-harvested over a seven week period, and clusters were hand sorted for consistency.

Our deepest and most intense wine of the many dozens of cabernet sauvignon lots we make each year. We select the most dazzling and fruit-intense cabernet we have, and then mature it in French oak only, to attain a concentration and spice level unmatched by any other wine we make. Relying solely on cabernet sauvignon there is no modification from other varieties. This is a thrilling wine for the brooding cabernet fanatic inside all of us.