2004 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage

Vintage Napa Valley's 2004 growing season was influenced initially by a warm February that tricked the vines into early budbreak and then, an unseasonably cold and very wet April caused the vines to stop growing. In May, the temperatures returned to normal and the vines resumed growth. Harvest started at the beginning of September and came to a close in early October. The growing season held many challenges, with extreme swings between hot and dry to cold and wet; the end result was a low yield and grapes with thick skins and great concentration. This wine shows aromas of evolved dark fruit and very supple, mature tannins on the finish.

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Vineyards

We sourced grapes throughout the Napa Valley appellation to accomplish the desired layering of flavors in our Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon. Blending fruit from classic and emerging appellations, including Rutherford, Oakville, Stags Leap, Atlas Peak and Wooden Valley, allowed us to take advantage of both the volcanic hillside soils and the deeper alluvial soils of the Valley floor. With the diversity of flavors, we were able to create a well-rounded mouthful of wine.

Winemaking

After hand-harvesting, gently de-stemming and crushing, and fermenting in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, the wonderful maturity of tannins in our grapes allowed us the opportunity to extend the post fermentation maceration time (skin contact) to 28 days on average. Extended juice to skin contact marries flavor and structure in the Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon giving the wine a seamless feel. Malolactic fermentation, in barrel, combined with 18 months aging in French oak barrels concentrates the flavors and adds nuances of vanilla and toffee.

Wine Facts

Vintage: 2004
Varietals: 98.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.3% Merlot
Appellation: Napa Valley
Barrel Aging: 18 months in French oak Wine Stats
Alcohol: 13.72%
pH: 3.73%
TA: 5.54 g/l

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