2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Hills Lake County Amber Knolls Vineyard

A few mountain ranges removed from the Pacific Ocean, Lake County is warmer and less foggy during the growing season than either Sonoma or Napa Counties. With the cleanest air in the state, the county offers unrestricted sunlight that maximizes vine potential. The Red Hills district is located entirely within Lake County’s Clear Lake AVA at the foot of the dormant volcano Mount Konocti. Clear Lake is largest fresh-water lake within California, and creates its own brand of “lake effect” by mitigating temperature extremes. Grapes were harvested from Amber Knolls Vineyard where the exceptional conditions of 2,200-foot elevations, signature red volcanic soils, and a warm dry climate were matched with Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 6 on 110R rootstock in 2001. This six-acre “textbook” planting produces small vines that transform stress resulting from minimal irrigation into small berries and loose clusters with favorable high skin-to-juice ratios and advanced flavor development. Grapes were contracted by-the-acre versus by-the-ton, allowing Winemaker George Troquato the option of cluster-thinning to two tons per acre from the projected five for a full expression of fruit.

Tasting Notes

This deeply colored cabernet has blackberry, black cherry and fig aromas with wisps of herbs de Provence (savory, thyme and lavender), mocha and sweet cigar smoke. The soft textured palate shows ripe blackberry, baking spice, vanilla cream, cocoa, toasted oak and some dried fruit. The structure is composed of fine grained tannins and balanced acidity while the finish is long and mouth-coating with dark fruit, spice and sweet oak.

Winemaking

• Hand harvested October 13, 2006 into small bins
• Four days of cold soaking to enhance the color and aromatics
• Seven days of fermentation in open-top bins
• The must was punched down three times daily for maximum flavor extraction
• Aged for 30 months in small French oak barrels (50% new)
• Bottled unfiltered to enhance mouthfeel

Vineyards

Amber Knolls Vineyard
Red Hills Lake County AVA

Technical Data

Varietal Content

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Finished Alcohol

15.0%

Total Acidity

0.59mg per 100ml
pH: 3.60

Release Date

January 2010

Downloads

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Hills Lake County Amber Knolls Vineyard Product Sheet
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