2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Bacchus Vineyard

From Winemaker, John Abbott:

These gnarly old vines, planted in 1972, are some of the oldest producing Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the state, and we have had the pleasure of working with this fruit since 1997. This particular block became available to us in 2002, which makes this vintage number 15. We have always said that no two vintages are alike, and even after so many, we can confirm that is true! Unusually cool weather at the start of 2017 led to a late bud break. This was followed by a really hot summer and our first experience with heavy smoke lingering in the air for an extended period. This combination slowed ripening as the vines went into protective mode from the heat, and the smoke acted like a cloud cover restricting the UV light needed for ripening.

We chose to give the 2017 Cabernets an extra year of bottle age, which made for a slim release in the fall of 2021. The vintage resulted in wines that are big and dense with a touch higher acidity that makes them nice and age-worthy when combined with their tannin structure. That age-worthiness also means they required a little extra time in the barrel and a little extra time in the bottle. The added year of development was well worth it.

The nose leads with brightness and floral notes surrounded by blue fruits and dark cherries. Then a taste brings boysenberries, pomegranate, and fruit leather to the combination of characters. The finish lingers with chewy tannins, a sweet spice, tobacco, and a touch of saddle leather. This wine will benefit from decanting when in its youth and will continue to reward with age.