Already recognized as a stellar vintage, 2001 was an ideal growing season in Napa Valley. Dry winter conditions preceded a long growing season, allowing the grapes to ripen at their own pace and provide balanced, concentrated, flavorful fruit. It was the type of growing season during which additional nuances of flavor and concentration developed, making 2001 a truly exceptional vintage. We harvested 5.93 tons of juicy, flavorful Cabernet Sauvignon on October 12, 2001.

Our winemaker, Celia Welch Masyczek believes that making great wine is at least 80% in the vineyard—a great vineyard site and impeccable vineyard management determine flavor, depth, and maturity. Celia determines the picking date more by taste than analysis. The Cabernet Sauvignon was gently destemmed without rollers, to preserve a large percentage of whole berries. It was transferred into a tank and fermented immediately, using gentle pumpovers three times each day to extract the ideal amount of flavor and color without extracting hard tannins. Drained and pressed approximately one week after dryness, the wine was transferred directly into small French oak barrels, 50% new, 50% once-used, for 19 months. Blended with 22% Merlot from the same vineyard, the Cabernet was unfined and minimally filtered prior to bottling in late May, 2003.

We harvested these rocky-soil Cabernet vines at a high level of ripeness, which is certainly evident in the final results. This Cabernet is a lush, dark purple, deep and rich-smelling, with black raspberry and cocoa-vanilla notes dominating the aromas. Hints of cinnamon bark and wild anise add subtle notes of complexity. In the mouth, pretty, sweet, bright focused fruit integrates nicely with the deeper toasty oak flavors. The texture is immediately soft, silky, and polished, with a full and consistent palate impression that finishes with sweet fruit and a sense of grace, elegance, and power.

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