2009 Benchland Select
Cabernet Sauvignon

Vineyards
Our Benchland Select Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted from two exceptional vineyards in Napa Valley’s gently sloping western benchlands, including Jack Cakebread’s Hill Ranch in the heart of the famed Rutherford appellation not far from the winery.  These sites enjoy ideal eastern exposures, well-drained soils and mild afternoon temperatures, resulting in uniform fruit ripening and wines of impressive depth and elegance.  In 2009, 80% of our Benchland Select grapes came from the esteemed Oakville appellation, while 20% came from the Hill Ranch in Rutherford.

Vintage 2009
In 2009, plentiful spring rains in Napa Valley deferred the need for early irrigation, resulting in especially small Cabernet Sauvignon berries with deeply concentrated flavors.  Summer was consistently cool, which allowed for slow, steady ripening and the parallel development of grape sugars and flavors, resulting in superbly balanced wines.  We harvested the grapes for our 2009 Benchland Select Cabernet Sauvignon between September 29th and October 9th with an ideal balance of ripe fruit flavors, supple tannins and bright acidity.

Winemaking
To maximize color extraction, tannin structure and vineyard expression, Cakebread Cellars winemaker Julianne Laks employs a mixture of small and larger tanks to ferment the components of our Benchland Select Cabernet Sauvignon.  Julianne carefully tailors tank sizes, yeast strains, fermentation temperatures and maceration techniques to the attributes of each lot of grapes, which vary by location, ripeness level and clonal type.  Such specialized fermentations, combined with lot-specific barrel aging regimens, ensure that the finest attributes of each vineyard site are reflected in the final blend.   Our 2009 Benchland Select spent a total of 20 months in French oak barrels, 36% new, before bottling in July, 2011.

Tasting Notes
The 2009 Benchland Select displays a beautifully deep, dark ruby color and a characteristically lavish nose of dense ripe boysenberry, blackberry and blackcurrant fruit mingled with pronounced loam and mocha scents.  Full-bodied and lush on the palate, its deeply concentrated boysenberry, blackberry, cassis and dark chocolate flavors have a wonderful freshness and purity that extend into a long, savory finish framed by ripe, supple tannins and sumptuous toasted oak tones.  Although this opulent Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon drinks beautifully now, it will reveal even greater dimension with another 6-8 years’ aging.

for pdf version, please click here

Grape Varieties:
100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Vineyards:
80% Oakville & 20% Rutherford Districts

Alcohol Content:
14.8%

Harvest Dates:
September 29 - October 9, 2009

Total Acidity: 0.63g/100ml

Fermentation:
Stainless Steel

pH: 3.7

Barrel Aging:
20 months in French Oak, 36% new

Winemaker:
Jullianne Laks