2018 Laurel Glen Vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Laurel Glen Vineyard faces east, above the fog line. This optimal exposure captures the first rays of morning sunlight and avoids the burning heat of late afternoon. The thin, rocky soils promote efficient drainage and restrain vigor.

 

The vineyard earned CCOF Organic Certification in 2014, thanks to the efforts of Viticulturist Phil Coturri.  In  addition  to  developing  a  comprehensive  schedule  of  cover  crops,  he  has  updated  the vineyard’s trellising system and pruning practices to achieve more even ripening and  concentration in the grapes.

Mild winter weather gave way to a cold, wet spring with much of Sonoma County worried about frost damage. Fortunately, cold air slides downhill and so our mountain vineyard did not suffer, although both   bud   break   and   flowering   got   off   to   a   later-than-normal   start. Summer   brought   lower- than-normal temperatures   with   very   few   heat   spikes,   resulting   in   great   phenolic  development in  the  grapes and   even   ripening   across   all   our   vineyard   sites.

The  mild weather allowed us to take our time and pick each block as it became optimally   ripe. As a result,   harvest lasted almost a month, from September 27 to October 22, 2018. Additionally, after three years of extremely small yields, we were blessed in 2018 with the most abundant harvest since 2014.

Once in barrel, the wines showed prodigious depth and incredible character that wonderfully displayed the  benefits of slow, even ripening. Many winemakers are comparing 2018 to the much lauded 2012 vintage, due to the extended ripening time, fantastic balance and excellent concentration of the grapes.