2019 Silas Cabernet Sauvignon
96 points James Suckling
In Stock
Our newest Cabernet is a tribute to Robert's Father, Silas. This wine is the ultimate expression of our best Cabernet from the crown of our hillside vineyard block.
Appellation
Alexander Valley
Varietal
82% Cabernet, 18% Petit Verdot
Oak aging
24 months in 100% French oak, 68% new oak
Harvested
October 10-14, 2019
Alcohol %
14.5
Tasting Notes
Aromas and flavors of lush blueberry and ripe plum accented with currants and fig. The pomegranate notes contribute a refreshing tartness. Vanilla bean provides a smooth, luxurious texture, while the dark cocoa adds a rich, slightly bitter complexity. The umami character shines through, offering a savory rich dimension that beautifully complements the flavors. A lingering finish of black tea adds an earthy, tannic quality, rounding out the wine's profile with a sophisticated touch. Pairs beautifully with braised beef, grilled steaks, roasted lamb and charcuterie.
Production Notes
6 barrels produced
Winemaker Notes
The vines on the crown of our best hillside vineyard are stressed, causing the vines to put every ounce of their energy into ripening the grapes, producing small berries bursting with rich, concentrated flavor. We marked off these vines to be handpicked early in the morning while temperatures were cool. The whole clusters were delivered to the winery in small bins. The fruit was carefully hand sorted, gently destemmed from the rachis (stems), and then moved to stainless steel tanks for fermentation. After 4 days of cold soaking, we initiated fermentation. During fermentation, the tank was pumped over twice per day, meaning juice was taken from the bottom of the tank and gently sprayed over the top, to keep the cap moist and ensure optimal extraction. Once primary fermentation was completed, the new wine was drained and pressed from its skins and pumped to a fresh tank. After the wine had settled in tank, the new wine was pumped off its sediment to barrels and secondary fermentation began. Malolactic fermentation was completed in barrel which helped soften the wine. Aged on light sur lie, in 68% new French oak barrels for 24 months, the resulting wine was racked from barrels to tanks for the final blend assemblage before bottling. 18% Petit Verdot was blended in to provide additional complexity and elevate the Cabernet Sauvignon so it can truly shine in this wine.