Ladera 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lone Canyon Vineyard

Vineyard Notes:
The 2001 Ladera Lone Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic example of the excellent quality of wine made from grapes grown on the Ladera Lone Canyon Vineyard. Lone Canyon Vineyard is a Ladera estate vineyard located in the western hills of the Napa Valley looking west at Mt Veeder. The total acreage on Lone Canyon Vineyard is 480 acres, but only 75 acres are suitable for planting to grapes because of the topography. The vineyard is moderate in slope to very steep with elevations up to 1,100 feet above sea level. The climate is relatively cool, primarily because of the elevation, but also due to the southerly location in Napa Valley. The vines are naturally balanced and yields range from 1 to less than 3 tons per acre. The soils are very well drained, clay loam of moderate depth.

The 2001 vintage will be remembered for the excellent growing season---a trouble-free year, producing superior wines. The harvest for Lone Canyon Cabernet started on September 10 and finished on October 2. The warm weather ripened the grapes early and uniformly, and proved to be ideal for producing high quality Cabernet Sauvignon.

Winemaker Tasting Notes:
The 2001 Ladera Lone Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon continues to show the terroir of the Lone Canyon Vineyard---deep, dark, with an extracted bramble fruit aroma and hints of spice and herbal notes. The texture of the wine, typical of Lone Canyon and its mountain location, is very rich and plush with an abundance of powerful, but velvety tannins. The 2001 Lone Canyon will be noted for its rich structure and true to Cabernet varietal expression.

Technical Notes:

Appellation:	Napa Valley
Varietals:	100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Bottle Date:	November 11, 2003
Must:	25.5 Brix, 4.4 g/L total acidity, 3.82 pH
Alcohol:	14.8%
Oak:	25 months in new (52%) and 1 to 3 year old French oak