2017 BURLY Cabernet Sauvignon “Special Selection”
Tasting Notes
Black cherry aromas layered with bright fruit notes and oak. Velvety and intense. Aromas of cassis and blackberries meld seamlessly with notes of pomegranate and anise. This is an elegantly structured wine with silkiness through the midpalate and a persistent, juicy finish. Deep, coating tannins ensure that this wine will age beautifully in the cellar. The rich, plush mouthfeel elegantly transforms into sweetness by supple tannins and lovely oak integration. A wonderful mineral note shines through the whole experience. Layered, complex, and lingering, a true wine-drinking experience. Wonderful now, this wine will still benefit from further bottle aging, reaching its peak in 3 to 5 years but drinkable for 10 years.
Making the Wine
The grapes came in small-berried, deep black-blue, and loose on the clusters. Following a five-day cold soak, the fermentation took seven days followed by a fourteen-day extended maceration. After which the wine was pressed and transferred to small French Oak barrels for aging. The wine was bottled in summer 2019 after twenty months of maturation in the barrel.
Special Selection
The winemaker tasted all 50 barrels and chose the best 6 barrels. These barrels exhibited plusher mouth-feels, and darker, stronger aromas. Enjoy.
Wine Facts
| Harvest Date: | October 15, 2017 |
| Bottled Date: | August 2019 |
| Barrels | 100% New French Oak |
| Alcohol: | 14.9% |
| Brix: | 27.5° |
| pH: | 3.76 |
| Titratable Acidity: | 5.8 g/L |
Vineyard
Our Cabernet Grapes came from The Simpkins Vineyard in the Coombsville area just east of the city of Napa. The vineyard, although staying warm and dry, is generally a little cooler than many Napa Valley vineyards and therefore allows more hang-time for the grapes. This brings greater concentration and layering to the finished wine. The vineyard soil is rocky loam which provides good drainage and low nutrient concentration. Under these stresses, the vines work hard to produce a limited amount of fruit.
Weather
The year began with abundant rainfall, followed by a mild spring. A Labor Day weekend heatwave kicked the grapes into high gear, then cool weather allowed sugar levels to return to normal. October 8 had fierce winds that fueled an unprecedented firestorm. The harvest finished with perfect weather that allowed grapes to mature with elegance and finesse.
