2004 Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting Notes
Our 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon is juicy, supple and silky, filled with ripe black fruit flavors. The dark berries and cherries lead into a smooth, licorice finish. The oak is well integrated, lending chocolate notes and a lick of smokiness and spice. Even though this wine was not made with grapes from our estate vineyards, I believe that we were able to maintain our winemaking style, which is balance and elegance.
The Year
There’s no way we can deny that the 2004 vintage was challenging. Mother Nature brought us a couple of frigid arctic fronts, which froze many of our vines and prevented them from producing fruit this year. We are fortunate to have friends across the state of Washington who gave us access to some of their best blocks of grapes. I put many miles on my car driving to these vineyards to gain an understanding of them and to monitor the grapes’ progress. Ultimately, what began as a problem turned into an exciting opportunity. Our wines from the 2004 vintage deliver the characteristically elegant complexity and super-long finish for which Pepper Bridge wines are known.
Viticulture
Entirely estate; Certified Sustainable and Salmon Safe. Founding member of VINEA.
Wine Specifics
Varietals: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec
Vineyards: 42% Cold Creek, 30% Canoe Ridge, 28% Weinbau
Awards & Accolades
“Pepper Bridge Winery had to look outside the estate vineyards for fruit in 2004 following a devastating winter. This Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from Cold Creek, Weinbau, and Canoe Ridge, has a different flavor profile than typical bottlings, but it still displays winemaker Jean-François Pellet’s sure hand. Gripping and tightly wound, the wine needs a full day of air for the scents of carob and black cherry to emerge. When it fully unfurls, the plum and cedar flavors meld seamlessly. Fine-grained tannins give it elegance.”
-Wine & Spirits, 93 points
