Etude Cab 1999

Winemaker's Notes:

Heady pure fruit aromas of dark red fruit, black plum, black cherry and mocha leap from the glass of this classic Cabernet Sauvignon and lead into layers of warm baking spices and anise. The palate is full of rich fruit supported by supple tannins that are long and fine. An opulent Cabernet Sauvignon with powerful structure and intensity that underscores why this varietal is one of the major pursuits at Etude. The 1999 vintage rewarded us with fully-developed Cabernet Sauvignon with supple and ripe tannins. Bud-break started relatively early and berry set was smaller than average. By early September, the grapes were on the verge of full development. Shortly after Labor Day, the dry northeast winds brought hot continental temperatures into the valley. This effectively brought on fast maturity to the grapes right at the end of ripening. The dry winds concentrated an already small yield and the high temperatures brought a level of flavor ripeness generally not reached without extended time on the vine. The resulting wines are heady, powerful and delicious. The Etude Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is handcrafted from several unique vineyards representing the major benchland sub-appellations of Napa Valley: Rutherford, St. Helena, Oakville and Calistoga. By deliberately sourcing fruit from this range of exemplary sources, the assembled wine attains the important range of expression and nuance that gives this wine its depth of character. The blend for the 1999 bottling consists of Cabernet Sauvignon (99%) with a touch of Cabernet Franc (.5%) and Malbec (.5%). The wine spent a minimum of 24 months in French oak barrels (80% new). The components were aged separately for approximately 12 months, the assemblage was then crafted and the blend was returned to barrels for an additional 10 months of aging before bottling.