 |
|
|||
|
 |
|||
|
|
|||
|
 |
|||
|
|
|||
|
1997 Arrowood
Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County Region/Origin: Sonoma County Residual Sugar: Dry Total Acid: .556g per 100ml Alcohol: 13.8% Final pH: 3.68 Blend: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc Winemaker's NotesDeep, ruby red in color, this wine presents an up-front bouquet of complex and delightful scents—luscious fruit aromas made up of such classic elements as cassis, cherries and blackberries. This aromatic bounty of sweet, forward fruit is augmented by notes of cedar box and oak. The palate shines with these fruit flavors, along with spice. Firm, yet balanced, tannins lend longevity and ageability. VintageThe 1997 vintage was one of the decades best and brightest at Arrowood, once we found enough space to accommodate the harvested grapes. Unusually cool weather in September and October gave us some extra hang time, which we gratefully accepted from Mother Nature. The dilemma was that the grapes ripened all at once, which left us scrambling to find enough space to hold the fruit, but somehow we managed to accommodate the lot, so to speak. Space notwithstanding, 1997 more closely resembles the outstanding 1994 vintage than any other year during the decade. Fermentation & Aging Our 1997 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon is destined to become a classic. The wine already exhibits some of the same lush characteristics and sweet roundness of its 1994 sibling, with a solid middle body and the kind of aromatics found in most great vintages. The final blend is 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and a small percentage of Merlot to soften the mouth feel. Smaller percentages of the Bordeaux varietals Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc were blended to add spice and more fruit complexity. All vineyard lots were aged separately in two-thirds French and one-third American oak barrels and blended just before bottling. Reflecting our non-interventional winemaking style, the 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon was not fined or filtered, allowing the fruit to really assert itself on the nose and palate. |
|||
|
|
|||
|
 |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Arrowood > Our Wines > Archives > Winemaker's Notes | |||
|
|
|||