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Wine Description
The Story
The Araujo Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon has a unique allure to it. It is the finesse, purity of fruit, vivid acidity and profound mineral character that set this wine apart from the other Napa wines. Its style is almost reminiscent of Pomerol. It is a sophisticated wine with great potential. Thanks to the Araujos vineyard management, the wines are showing an increasing amount of the terroir character. The terroir There are three terroir factors that give the Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon its unique character.
Firstly, the vineyard is located in a cove protected by the Palisades Mountains, which draw cool air from the Sonoma coastline to the site from the western Chalk Hill Gap. This helps the grapes keep their freshness and acidity, which is often a challenge given the warm Calistoga district.
The second factor is the subsoil composition, which is being shaped by the two tributaries crossing the vineyard. The subsoil is made up of volcanic cobbles derived from the Palisades Mountains. This deep rocky subsoil is well-draining causing the vine roots to penetrate deep into the ground in search of water. As the roots penetrate the soil levels, more mineral compounds are being absorbed adding minerals and complexity to the grapes. As the vineyard lies on a gently sloping hill there are parts of the vineyard with richer soil containing volcanic ash, small stones and red clay. These parts provide more weight and complexity to the flavour profile of the grapes.
The third terroir factor is formed by the Araujos themselves. Through innovative vineyard management practices, the Araujos have succeeded in transferring the unique terroir into their wines. Philosophy in winemaking The Araujos commitment to producing estate-grown wines of highest calibre and distinction has driven them to employ cutting-edge practices in farming and winemaking
Wine Information
The 2008 growing season was year of extremes, beginning with intense storms that brought rain and high winds, but the precipitation soon waned and for the second year in a row, less than 60% of normal rainfall was received.
The spring season was one of the driest on record. The dry soils prompted grapevines to push out early, just as frigid, dry air in early spring created conditions for the deepest and longest frost period in three decades, against which our wind machines proved ineffective. The Cabernet grapes were not spared by the frosts, which caused a loss of over 20% of the normal crop. The vines produced a small canopy in response to the lack of soil moisture, while enduring an early heat spike at bloom.
A cooler summer ensued, allowing the naturally resilient vines to focus on ripening their small crop in the mild temperatures. After the early start to the growing season, the Eisele Vineyard harvest began slightly earlier than normal, with the first block of Cabernet harvested on September 11th and the final grapes picked on October 1st. The fruit was sorted, de-stemmed and cold-soaked, undergoing native yeast fermentations and long macerations in small stainless steel and concrete tanks. The wine was aged in 100% new French oak barrels for 26 months and bottled in December 2010.
Tasting Notes
This wine exudes heady aromas of black currant, blackberry and dark plum, enhanced by touches of anise, smoke, cinnamon and cola. In the mouth, the fruit notes are pure cassis spiced with nutmeg and sarsaparilla, leading to more earthy notes of loam, graphite and espresso. The wine is dense and concentrated but balanced, its core sweetness embraced by firm but silky tannins; the wine seems to dance across the palate into a lingering finish of spice and minerals. Notes winemaker FranНoise Peschon: Beginning with soft creaminess on the attack, becoming powerful and rich in the mouth, and finishing with a supple sweetness, there is tension in this wine that holds your interest throughout. It is a wine of power, persistence and grace.
Grape Source 89% Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard, 7% Cabernet Franc Eisele Vineyard
4% Petit Verdot Eisele Vineyard Napa Valley
Production & Technical Data
Alcohol: 14.8%
Total Acid: 0.52 g/100ml
pH: 3.86
Production: 1390 cases
Release date: October 1, 2011
