2002 Portfolio, Limited Edition
Vintage Note
Wet winter with rain in December 2001 and January. Light precipitation and moderate temperatures in the spring prompted a good fruit set. The summer temperatures were mild and nothing was out of ordinary. But, when September and October unfolded, everything looked different. We had many days with low humidity below 10% with no night fog. Overall, the grape crop was balanced, showing excellent colors and flavor concentration.
The wine shows an intense inky dark color. Very engaging and promising aromas of dark chocolate and wild berries with beautiful spicy sweet oak. It is a powerful concentrated full bodied wine combining elegance with tremendous intensity and richness. A multi-layer taste of complex dark fruit, licorice, cedar and toasty hazelnut with a finish that goes for a long fresh after taste. The wine is dense and rich, silky tannins and great structure. It can be enjoyed now and for many decades to come.
Winemaking Note
Composition: Cabernet Sauvignon 80%, Cabernet Franc 20%
Fruit Sources: Hendry Ranch Block 8 and Weitz Vineyard
Age of Vines: CS 28 years and CF 9 years
Date of Harvest: October 5th and October 6th
Fermentation: Fermented in 1-ton bin
Winemaking: Natural gravity flow, no fining, no filtration
Skin Contact: 30 days
Malolactic Fermentation: In barrel
Barrel Aging: 20 months in 100% New French Oak
Production: 200 cases
Accolade
Wine Spectator
92 points
"Firm, rich and intense, with a complex band of ripe currant, anise, nutmeg and black cherry fruit that slowly unfolds, revealing extra layers of concentration and depth and finishing with a long yet tightly wound core of flavors. Needs time or decanting. Best from 2007 through 2014." - James Laube