Varietal
Cabernet Franc, one of the classic Bordeaux varietals, is most often used as a blending grape to add interest and to compliment Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot based wines. On its own Cabernet Franc produces alluring wines that are early maturing with generous mouthfeel and fruit and less tannic than Cabernet Sauvignon.

Vintage
The season began on a wet note - we got almost a year's average rainfall in December 2002 – but an unseasonably warm spring gave us an early bud break in March. The vines began to grow and the weather turned cold and wet again in April; depending on location we had rain between 20 to 26 days of the month. This cool overcast weather virtually stopped vine growth and filled the soil with water. As it turned out, April rains and soil moisture ended up being the big story of 2003. Warm weather in May got things going again with explosive growth, then June cooled off and it became apparent that it was going to be a late harvest. There were rumblings about similarities with 1998, but with record heat in July, the situation looked hopeful. August cooled some but brought a tropical weather pattern and the fear of rain. The weather warmed in late September and it became a challenge to control sugars while waiting for flavor maturity. Once harvest began in mid-September, but thanks to a cooling trend, we were able to bring in fruit with great ripeness and maturity through October. 2003 was unique and, weather-wise all over the board. But we got what we needed at critical times and most varietals fared beautifully.

Vinification
The harvest began on September 26th. The fermentation took place in small open top tanks and was punched down daily over 25 days. After pressing, the wine was racked to French oak barrels and aged for 18 months then ultimately bottled in June 2004. Alcohol 14.5%, Total Acidity 5.5, pH 3.80, Residual Sugar .03%.

Tasting Notes
It is a supple, full bodied wine, with complex flavors (dark chocolate, toast, black cherry, black currant), good balance, and a long finish. The tannins are only moderate in intensity, and this wine will likely be at its best from 3 to 6 years from now.

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