< 2000 Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon
COMPLETE TASTING NOTES
The 2000 growing season was marked by moderate weather, the third consecutive cool vintage. And, as October brought even cooler conditions, the Cabernet Sauvignon harvest was prolonged, allowing for desirable extended hangtime. With balanced crop levels and meticulous management in the vineyards, we patiently waited for full flavor development before harvesting this late-ripening variety. During the latter stages of maturation in the vineyards, the Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties developed increasingly better color, flavor, texture and richness-all of these attributes are highlighted in Chalk Hill Estate's 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Once harvested, the grapes were gently crushed and de-stemmed to a fermentation tank. Using predominantly native yeast, the tanks were "pumped-over" to thoroughly extract the color, tannin, flavor and concentration from the grape skins. At completion of fermentation, the tanks were individually evaluated for extended maceration, and decisions to drain and barrel the wines were made as the wine had reached perfect textural balance. A native malolactic fermentation proceeded in French oak barrels, a process which harmonizes and softens the wine's structure while integrating the toasty nuances of the oak. The Chalk Hill Estate 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon was aged for twenty-one months in French oak barrels from various coopers. Finally, the wine was delicately blended with small amounts of Petit Verdot and Malbec for optimum expression of the Chalk Hill Estate's unique terroir-one redolent of dark berry fruit, currant, spiced leather and mocha. The wine's full, soft tannins generously fill out the middle palate while adding sweetness and length to the finish. Needing only minimal fining with fresh egg whites, the wine was bottled in August of 2002
REVIEW
Wine Enthusiast awards the 2000 Estate Bottled Chalk Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points
Complete Review
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
- Blend:
- 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec
- Vineyard:
- Estate
- Appellation:
- Chalk Hill
- Ageing:
- Twenty-one months, 56% new French oak
- Harvested:
- September 29 - November 3, 2000, Brix 22.3°, T.A. 5.2 g/l, pH 3.65
- Bottled:
- August 13, 2002, T.A. 6.3 g/l, pH 3.67
