Vineyards & Vintage:
The fruit was selected from several vineyard sites throughout the Alexander Valley where Cabernet Sauvignon grows best, including some of St. Jean’s traditional sources: Asti Vineyard, Treehouse Vineyard, Stuhlmuller Vineyard, as well as Chambers & Hansen and Belle Terre vineyards.
The 2014 growing season was long and moderate, producing rich, flavorful wines with balanced acidity. The Cabernet Sauvignon fruit enjoyed the long hang time the season offered as well as the bright sunshine over the course of the dry summer. The resulting fruit that came into the winery had deep color, concentrated flavors and ripe tannins.
Winemaking:
This Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with just a small amount of Merlot (7%). After a combination of open-and closed-top fermentation, the wine was barreled to a blend of 63% French oak and 37% American oak, with about 40% overall in new oak. Following aging for 18 months in barrel, the wine was assembled and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
The Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has a bright and inviting nose with loads of fresh berry aromas: boysenberry, blackberry and baking spice notes. The nose leads to a plush, juicy, full mouthfeel filled with fresh berry jam and dark chocolate flavors. The wine is well-structured with a dense core of fruit and smooth tannins. The balanced acidity gives the wine a long, flavorful finish.
Alc: 14.7%
TA: 0.63 g/100 ml
pH: 3.58