Renaissance 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage Notes:
The 1997 growing season started with a perfect spring; warm, dry and sunny followed by a typically hot early summer. Bud was early; bloom was one of the earliest and most even in our memory.

Winemaker Tasting Notes:
Medium-dark color. Nose fruity, fresh, “wet stone”, showing some bottle aging. Palate: medium bodied, concentrated, tight, with very ripe fruit (blackberry) and tannins. The finish is vibrant and minerally. A wine for long aging, requiring a good few hours of aeration (decanting) if consumed at its youth (about 4-8 years).

January 2005 Tasting Notes: Medium dark color. Now showing additional complexity from bottle aging. Palate: medium bodied, concentrated, with very ripe fruit (blackberry) and tannins. The finish is vibrant and minerally. This wine which is delightfully drinkable, will keep improving with further aging over the next few decades.

Technical Notes:

Appellation:	North Yuba, Sierra Foothills
Varietal Blend:	91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Harvest:	Sept 7-27, 1997
Average Brix:	24.0
Fermentation:	6-29 days. Hot Hot fermentation in stainless steel tanks, aeration and sprinkle-over cap
Aging:	17 months in 225l old oak barrels (American, French and German)
Alcohol:	12.6%
pH:	3.3