Souverain

"Rich, ripe and earthy. Complex and full-bodied. Aromas and flavors of red fruits, yeast, toasty oak and spice. Light tannins. Long finish."  Press Democrat, July 16th 2008

Winemaking

As has become tradition, Winemaker Ed Killian keeps each varietal and vineyard lot separate from harvest to barrel to final blend, enabling him to develop a wine that reflects its origin. Once the fruit was picked at full maturity, the fruit was fermented for 10 to 14 days for complete extraction of the dark color and rich flavors. Ed gently pressed each lot, and then racked and aged the wine in oak barrels for 18 months before blending and bottling. The 2005 vintage uses 73 percent French oak together with Hungarian and American oak for added complexity. Ed keeps a close watch on each lot throughout the aging process to help determine which wines will make up the final blend.

Winemakers Comments

Rich aromatics of roasted coffee, black and red fruit on the nose lead to flavors of black cherry, black plum and blackberry on the palate. The high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon creates dark, brooding yet structured tannins along with subtle layers of vanilla, bittersweet chocolate and baking spices. This balanced wine offers a well-structured mouthfeel that contributes to a long, toasty oak finish. This Cabernet Sauvignon is a wonderful introduction to Alexander Valley.

Appellation: Alexander Valley
Components: 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Syrah, 1.5% Petite Sirah, and 1.5% Cabernet Franc
Harvest: September 26 to November 1, 2005
Brix: 25.8
Total Acids: 0.60g/100ml
pH: 3.74
Alcohol: 14.1%
Cooperage: Aged 18 months in
American and French oak barrels
Release: January 2008