 2004 Rutherford Bench RESERVE Cabernet Sauvignon
Cases produced: 3412
Alcohol: 14.4%
Titratable acidity: 6.1 g/L
pH: 3.73
Blend percentages: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc,
1% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec
Oak: 48% new French oak
Aging: 20 months in barrel
Appellation: Rutherford
Harvest: The 2004 vintage was an extremely unusual vintage and was a year in which talented winemakers earned their money. Buds started pushing earlier than expected in March during surprisingly warm, summer-like conditions. There was not much spring weather to speak of until summer when we finally got some relief from the heat. Summer returned again in September and October which brought fruit in a record-breaking two weeks early. Sequoia Grove has never picked before Labor Day…but we did this year, starting with Chardonnay and then quickly moving into the red varieties. Tonnage was up to 30% light in some vineyards. The combination of the weather and the light crop made for an intense, powerful vintage, similar to 2002.
Description: Deep, dark red in color, the intensity of the color immediately gets your attention. The first sniff on the nose brings many rich layers, starting with cinnamon, and quickly leading into an intriguing character that can only be described as Rutherford dust. More aromas of fresh, sun drenched blackberries, cocoa powder, and vanilla and more hard to describe characters such as fresh cranberry sauce and a hint of licorice and pencil lead. The first sip explodes on your palate and coats your tongue again with blackberry and cranberry flavor which give way to more restrained notes of black pepper and cigar box with a finish that lingers on and on. This wine will probably last longer on your tongue than it does in the tasting room, so get it now!
Food suggestions: This complex wine pairs well with delicately prepared dishes with nuances of flavor. A simple dish of herb-roasted chicken and slow-cooked risotto with a touch of parmesan would pair nicely and let the wine shine through. It is delicate enough to match well with butter roasted halibut in a reduction sauce with morels and fresh peas.
Grapes: The majority of grapes come from our own 24 acre Rutherford estate where all five Bordeaux varietals are grown: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec.
· Blending Varietals brix at harvest: between 24.0 and 27.2
· Blending Varietals harvest date: September 11-27, 2004
· Cabernet Sauvignon brix at harvest: between 24.8 and 28.6
· Cabernet Sauvignon harvest date: September 18-October 6 2004
Winemaking practices:
· Hand picked
· Hand-sorted fruit
· 2-3 day cold soak
· Inoculated with an assortment of French yeast strains
· Small batch fermentations
· Pumpovers 2-3 times per day
· Malolactic fermentation in barrels and upright wooden casks
· Racked three times before bottling
Bottle size: 750 ml Retail Price: $60 | Wine Club Price: $48 Bottling date: August 2006 Release date: October 2007 |
