2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Magnum

75% Cabernet Sauvignon, Pine Hawk Vineyard       25% Petit Verdot, Jack Knife Vineyard

2019 was a long cool growing season. The Spring was unusually wet with some rainy and foggy days. Until July the temperatures stayed in the mid to high 60’s. It started warming up around July 4th. As a result of the weather we had a late harvest and a smaller than normal crop. It was the coolest vintage here on the Central Coast since 2011.Tthe coolest season prior to this was in 1999 when we harvested Syrah at Bien Nacido Vineyard the week before Thanksgiving.

The grapes at Pine Hawk Vineyard are certified organic and they were certified biodynamic for 8 years prior. The grapes from Jack Knife Vineyard were transitioning to organic in 2019 and in 2020 became certified organic.

The grapes were picked at 24.5 Brix for the Cabernet and 24.0 Brix for the Petit Verdot. We were originally going to let the grapes hang for another week or so, when a prolonged heavy frost warning came up and we were able to harvest the grapes in the following day on October 28.

Both the Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot grapes were in pristine condition with good pH and acidity. The fruit was de-stemmed and kept cool for a several days The fermentation started naturally. We punched down twice a day and pressed the must into barrels after about 3 and a half weeks.

The wine was aged for 20 months in 40% new French Ermitage barrels and was bottled without fining or filtration. The resulting wine has a deep purple color and it exhibits flavors black raspberries and plums layered with currants with savory notes and a spicy, toasty finish.