Product Description:

From the Winemakers' Website: TASTING NOTES: This Cabernet is set each vintage as a Bordeaux blend, with soft & silky tannins & a plush, full mouth-feel setting it up for immediate enjoyment, although it’s built to age & develop further complexity. Aromas of dried herbs, cedar, clove & lavender join flavors of dark red fruit led by figs, black cherry, currants, boysenberry, huckleberry, raspberry, & evident oak spice are joined with more traditional Knights Valley tones of black olive, wild sage & mocha chocolate. Fine acidity & balance with an elegant structure lead to a lingering, memorable finish. VINEYARD NOTES: Located 17 miles northwest of the winery, Knights Valley vineyard is approximately 600 acres, & has rocky, well-drained soils that are perfectly suited to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec & Petit Verdot. VINTAGE NOTES: The 2017 vintage provided high quality thanks to lower than average yields. The year began with abundant rainfall. Spring weather was mild, resulting in extended flowering in some areas with little shatter. Vines were vigorous thanks to the winter rains. A freak hail storm passed through quickly in June causing isolated damage. Three heat events, including one over Labor Day weekend, kicked harvest into high gear, dehydrating some grapes by early September. Cool weather arrived immediately afterward, allowing sugar levels to return to normal. Most late-ripening red grapes continued to hang on the vine & were picked throughout October. WINEMAKING NOTES: To maintain the unique characteristics of the different lots from varying areas of the vineyard, each is monitored carefully through the vinification & aging process. Extended maceration created larger tannins to enhance the lush mouthfeel of the blend & extracted a maximum of color, aromas & flavors. The wines were then aged in French oak barrels (27% new) for 20 months & underwent malolactic fermentation for further development of texture & mouthfeel.