2008 Chalk Hill Cabernet Sauvignon-Carmenere
| Vintage: | 2008 |
| Wine Type: | Red Wine |
| Varietal: | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Varietal Composition: | |
| 80% | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| 20% | Carmenere |
| Harvest Date: | October 23 & 30, 2008 |
| Barrel Aging: | |
| 18 Months | |
| 100% | French Oak |
| 80% | New Barrels |
| Tasting Notes: | Our 2008 Cabernet-Carménère boasts a deep, dark color and ripe, intense bouquet with concentrated blackberry, black cherry, bittersweet chocolate, Herbes de Provence, and coffee. The finish is long and lingering with ample, silky tannins. |
| Vineyard Notes: | An unusually dry winter and early spring was followed by a severe frost in April. That event, coupled with a May heat spell during bloom, led to lower than normal crop levels. The summer was dry and relatively warm while September was marked by an opening burst of heat. We waited to harvest until mid-October, after the fruit had reached full physiological ripeness. |
| Winemaker Notes: | The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon-Carmenère blend comes from our 56-acre Estate West Vineyard across Chalk Hill Road. This southwest-facing, rocky parcel enjoys great exposure, slightly warmer temperatures and low yields. Carménère produces a wine that is thick, dark and juicy; in small amounts it heightens the aromatics and texture of Cabernet. After hand harvesting and fermentation, each of the individual lots were aged in French oak barrels (80% new) for 18 months. |
| Production: | Cabernet Sauvignon Average Yields 2.4 tons/acre
Carménère Average Yields 1.1 tons/acre Average Brix at Harvest 27.2° |
Tasting Notes:
Our 2008 Cabernet-Carménère boasts a deep, dark color and ripe, intense bouquet with concentrated blackberry, black cherry, bittersweet chocolate, Herbes de Provence, and coffee. The finish is long and lingering with ample, silky tannins.
Vineyard Notes:
An unusually dry winter and early spring was followed by a severe frost in April. That event, coupled with a May heat spell during bloom, led to lower than normal crop levels. The summer was dry and relatively warm while September was marked by an opening burst of heat. We waited to harvest until mid-October, after the fruit had reached full physiological ripeness.
Winemaker Notes:
The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon-Carmenère blend comes from our 56-acre Estate West Vineyard across Chalk Hill Road. This southwest-facing, rocky parcel enjoys great exposure, slightly warmer temperatures and low yields. Carménère produces a wine that is thick, dark and juicy; in small amounts it heightens the aromatics and texture of Cabernet. After hand harvesting and fermentation, each of the individual lots were aged in French oak barrels (80% new) for 18 months.
Production:
Cabernet Sauvignon Average Yields 2.4 tons/acre
Carménère Average Yields 1.1 tons/acre
Average Brix at Harvest 27.2°
