2021 Pied de Cuve Cabernets – 200 Cases Produced
We did a trade with our friends at Scout Vineyard, some Riesling for some Cabernet Sauvignon and blended it 50/50 with Cabernet Franc from the Mariposa Vineyard. The Cabernet Franc gives intense, lifted dried flowers and blueberry notes while the Cabernet Sauvignon adds bright blackcurrant and a nice tobacco note making a lovely combination. Medium bodied, juicy acidity, only 12% alcohol this is a fresh, vibrant, unoaked red that is packed with flavour and intensity. Works well lightly chilled too.
The 2021 vintage was intense. Record heat threatened to shut down the vines and regular irrigation was needed to keep the vines ticking along. The hot season resulted in an early harvest of small and very intensely flavoured grapes. Yields were lower due to the heat but the flavours and concentration were excellent. The grapes for both varieties were foot trodden separately, with about 1/3 left as whole clusters, and left to ferment naturally on the skins for around 12 days before gentle pressing and then spending another 8 months ageing on the lees in stainless steel. The varieties were then blended, 50/50, before settling then bottling unfined and unfiltered in August 2022.
