2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

Vineyard: Located at the northern terminus of the Alexander Valley, Cloverdale Ranch is home to Block 21, a three-acre parcel and the namesake of our Cabernet Sauvignon. The ranch is 135 total planted acres sitting between the eastern bank of the Russian River and the western slopes of the Mayacamas mountains. With some of the warmest temperatures in the area, the grapes growing here easily reach full maturity, lending to wines with immense concentration and complexity. The soils are a mix of gravel deposits left by the Russian River and alluvial fans formed by centuries of erosion and runoff from the Mayacamas. 

 

38°48'18.8"N 122°59'28.7"W

 

Vintage:  The 2008 growing season was near perfect although it can be said it was a vintage of extremes. The cold, wet winter transformed into what was to become a drier than normal spring. Early bud break was followed by a cold snap that went on for weeks and required all frost protection methods be utilized. It was the coldest spring in Sonoma County in more than 40 years. The mild summer meant even ripening and good fruit development.  It was obvious that the season was on the road to becoming a good year for winemaking. A heat spike in late August sent the harvest gears in motion and the Cabernet and all of its blending varietals were picked by end of September.