2006 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Winegrowing:

Ideal weather and low yields produced highly extracted and well-structured Cabernet Sauvignon in 2006. The crop yields and vine growth were kept in good balance and the ripening season provided ample flavor and tannin development. The cool weather during harvest allowed us to make more precise harvest timing decisions as the vines ripened the fruit at a slow and deliberate pace. The resulting wines have good concentration and tannin integrity, and a sense of balanced ripeness.

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 2006 bottling consists of Cabernet Sauvignon (98%) with a touch of Cabernet Franc (2%). 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 12 months of aging before bottling.

Tasting Notes:

This opulent Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon opens with generous aromas of blueberry, blackberry and cassis that lead to layers of black licorice and mocha. The wine has the signature style of Etude with depth and richness of fruit and a velvety texture. There’s a wonderful saturation and expansiveness on the palate with flavors of black cherry,black tea, clove and vanilla bean notes from aging in French oak. The tannins are youthful and plush, which will allow this wine to age gracefully.