1999 Cabernet Sauvignon 

 

 

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Winemaker Notes

Our second vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon shows how much an extra year of vine age can add to wine complexity and character. As we become more familiar with each individual vineyard block in the Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills estate vineyards, we can refine the elegance and personality of the wine even more by slightly varying the blend. The most exciting aspect of all this is that after only two vintages our wines already show an incredible depth of flavor and a polished style, boding extremely well for the future.

Our 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon is bright, rich and focused on a core of spicy black cherry, cassis and blackberry fruit that is complex and concentrated. Its long, intricate finish reveals hints of chocolate, cinnamon and mint. The mouthfeel is smooth with well-integrated tannins. This wine aged 22 months in 70% new French Oak barrels and 8 months in the bottle prior to release.

- Jean-François Pellet, Winemaker

The 1999 Vintage

The 1999 vintage worried us early on with cool spring and summer weather, but September warmed up and the grapes matured quickly. Verasion started around August 10 and was 100% complete two weeks later. Harvest began with Merlot on September 24 at Seven Hills Vineyard, and finished October 18 with Cabernet Sauvignon from Pepper Bridge Vineyard. Due to variable weather conditions and a late growing season, we decided to lower the crop levels severely by dropping fruit in early August, which assisted in the fruit reaching full maturity. We vinified each lot separately and fermented in small bins, punching down three times daily. After pressing and primary fermentation, we racked every lot into oak barrels, and inoculated for malolactic fermentation. As a group, all the 1999s show dark color, bright fruit and nice complexity.

Wine Specifics

Varietal(s): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Vineyard(s): 72% Pepper Bridge Vineyard, 28% Seven Hills Vineyard

Appellation: Walla Walla Valley

Harvest Date(s): September 29 through October 18, 1999

Brix at Harvest: 24.9

Total Acidity: 0.60gr/ml

pH: 3.78

Finished Alcohol: 13.7

Total Production: 1,208 9-liter cases

Release Date: March 16, 2002

Suggested Retail Price:  $50.00 

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