♦ 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon ♦

Vineyard: Luchessi Vineyard, Cupertino Hills
Appellation: Santa Cruz Mountains
Wine: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol: 12.7%
Production: 224 cases

This vineyard is a perfect example of a rough and rugged mountain vineyard that produces wine with tons of character. It was planted in 1981 on a very steep hillside on the east side of the Santa Cruz Mountains a little northeast of Monte Bello Ridge. It is an old fashioned vineyard with head-trained vines with no trellis wires – the site is too steep to have wires as tractors need to be able to cultivate either direction depending on the slope.

The yields are very low which results in very intense wine. This release has very deep varietal Cabernet fruit in the aroma and flavor, and lots of briar, earth and chocolate components in both the nose and the mouth. This is a rugged and feisty Cabernet Sauvignon for hearty meals now, or it will continue to age gracefully in the cellar for many years.