2017 Bismark Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml
Vineyard Source: Our Bismark Mountain Ranch is high above the city of Sonoma and San Pablo Bay. Here on the southwestern flanks of the Mayacamas Mountains we grow 27 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon amid outcroppings of Rhyolite. We began planting in 1991 and continue to fine tune our mix of cultivars to this day. This is steep ground; shared with Creosote bush, Grey pine, coyote and mountain lion. Topographically it is similar to the Douro. Windy, sun drenched yet moderate in temperature, Bismark grudgingly produces grapes with an intense, deeply concentrated flavor. Bismark’s unique terroir is both fierce and alluring.
Vintage 2017: A welcome, very wet winter recharged the Mountain’s ground water supply. A relatively dry, cool spring led into a summer with alternating cool and very hot periods. Blocks that were blooming during extremes suffered some shatter but overall, the crop size was average. A cool August was followed by a Labor Day heat wave that pushed harvest into high gear. Temperatures then moderated into a glorious, easy ripening September and early October. The grapes for the Bismark Mountain Cab Franc were harvested from September 6, to October 7, 2017 at an average of 27o Brix.
Winemaking: The grapes were sorted, destemmed and partially crushed to stainless steel fermentation tanks. Pressing was done “to taste”, based on daily tastings of the wines after pumpover. The newly pressed wines were racked to tank and allowed to settle before barreling. The wine was aged on lees for 27 months in 73% almost new French oak barrels coopered by Trust, Remond, Boutes and Treuil.
Tasting Notes: Ostensibly dissonant notes of mint, brown sugar, coal, tapenade, boysenberry, coconut and halvah leap from the glass in delightful harmony. By mouth this wine adds oolong tea, graham pastry, tiramisu and clove to the symphony. This ample Cab finishes with plush, finely wrought tannins.
Variety
77% Cab, 23% Malbec
Vineyard Location
Hanna’s Bismark Mountain Ranch Blocks 6, 26, 3
Harvest Dates
September 6, to October 7, 2017
Brix at Harvest: Average: 27°
Alcohol 14.8%
pH 3.89
Titratable Acidity (TA): 0.60 g/100 mL
Residual Sugar 0.25%
Length/Type of Aging
27 months on lees in 60-gal oak barrels.
Oak Types
73% Almost new French barrels from Trust, Remond, Boutes and Treuil
Bottling Date: March 25, 2020
Number of Cases 370