Vineyard
Notes
The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are grown at Carter's Mountain, located
about twelve miles from First Colony Winery at an elevation of 1165
feet. The vineyard is on a western facing slope on the top of a ridge
with fertile Davidson red clay soil with some greenstone. Due to the
high elevation, this site has excellent drainage and is above the
frost zone. Planted in 1996 on a 8 x 10 foot spacing, the vineyard
uses a divided (Smart Dyson Ballerina) canopy.
A long, dry summer turned into a long, dry autumn, producing the
best vintage to date in Virginia's winemaking history. Due to the
phenomenal weather conditions, the grapes were picked according
to their optimum levels of Brix and pH. The Cabernet Sauvignon fruit
was exceptionally ripe at harvest.
Cellar
Notes
The grapes were gently crushed and destemmed, then fermented for
fifteen days with four pump overs per day. After four and a half
weeks on the skins, the Cabernet Sauvignon was aged in 50% new oak
barrels: 70% American and 30% French oak. After eight months of
aging the wine was racked, fined with egg whites and bottled without
filtration. This wine has aromas of pleasant bursts of fruit, including
cooked cherries and cassis and a balance of spice and tannin on
the palate.
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