Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2007 |
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The declaration of a Reserve in our Cabernet Sauvignon is an early signal of where the highest honors will fall when the wine is ultimately released, and the warrant of a great vintage for all of our reds. The San Francisco Gold Medal, the Monticello Cup, the Virginia Governor’s Cup, the highest ratings from the critical press and international tasting institutes attest to the unblinkable reality that the Virginia Piedmont can produce a superb Cabernet Sauvignon -- given only, no reluctance to adopt the techniques which this vineyard established for this grape in this region, from clonal selection to the spacing of vines, to ideal trellising, to pruning, canopy management, and green harvest. Rare by virtue of the strictest standards, and by its growth in only one sector of our vineyard, the wine’s first claimant in any vintage is Octagon, making the Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve’s varietal production that much rarer. A wine astonishing by finesse, not assault, it exhibits our clear commitment to an elegant proportionality over excess in any aspect -- even in a wine of abundant power and complexity -- as the only basis for its integration with the finest dining, and sustainable evolution on the shelf. |
Vintage Factors:
A dry and challenging growing season, calling for judicious crop maintenance including lower yields than normal, led to a harvest of vigorous and outstandingly ripened Cabernet Sauvignon in our Reserve vineyard on Goodlow Mountain. The last of our 2007 reds to be released, it is very appealing now and will be even more approachable in 2012.
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Vinification:
Traditional fermentation on the skins in stainless steel for 5-7 days, followed by up to 14 days of extended maceration. Aged 13-14 months in new and used barriques of medium-toasted French oak. |
Analysis:
13.8% Alcohol
0.0% Residual Sugar
0.56% Total Acidity |
Tasting Notes:
Vigorous body and palate of Cabernet -- dark berry, cassis, pepper, coffee, prune, mint and vanilla -- of resilient, continuously intriguing length. Rich and polished tannins model a wine of deeply alluring and silken depth. |
Optimum Drinking:
The wine should be cellared 1 to 2 more years to glimpse the leading edge of what it truly offers, which will then only improve through another 5, sustaining that plateau indefinitely. |
Food Pairings:
The great American hamburger, of ample ground chuck, seared rare
Garlic-studded roast leg of lamb with rosemary purée
Médaillons of grilled sashimi tuna with seared foie gras |
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