90 points, Wine Enthusiast
Surrounded by wilderness, our Goat Trek Vineyard fruit has exceptional concentration. Bold with finesse.
WINEMAKING NOTES Everything about the 2017 vintage was perfect for late-ripening mountain Cabernet fruit. Relying on traditional Bordeaux techniques, we focused on structure and mouthfeel. Handpicking on the slopes made us channel our inner billy goat but the extra labor was worth it. Primary fermentation occurred in stainless steel. Gentle basket pressing followed by malolactic fermentation in barrel set the foundation for subsequent barrel aging. French oak aging for 22 months struck the perfect balance between fruit and tannin development. THE WINE There's a new world boldness of aroma and flavor that is juxtaposed against an old world finesse reflecting our penchant to straddle the two while showcasing our stellar mountain estate. Aromatics of cassis and black cherry lead to flavors of plum, blackberry, chocolate covered orange slices, and notes of pencil shaving with subtle black olive. This Cabernet Sauvignon is bold and full of power. It will age well through 2030 - 2035. A plate of braised short ribs, prime rib, lamb stew, or a vegetarian red wine risotto with cranberry beans would all be excellent foils for this wine. 5 cases | Made with organically-grown grapes TECHNICAL NOTES VINEYARD 100% Goat Trek Vineyard, CCOF-certified organic COMPOSITION 100% Cabernet Sauvignon FERMENTATION Temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with daily pumpovers; 21 days total skin contact BARREL AGING 22 months, 100% French oak with low to medium toast and 3-4 year air-drying; 70% new
