2008 AD VIVUM Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
FACTS
Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Single-Vineyard: Sleeping Lady Vineyard, Yountville, Napa Valley. All fruit was from a dedicated 8-row sub-block at the highest elevation of the western extremity of the vineyard, against the Mayacamas mountains. Clone 191. Row orientation southwest-northeast.
Soil: Well-drained alluvial, gravelly-loam soil
Harvest: 14 October 2008
Bottling: 1,296 bottles (750ml) were filled 12 May 2010. Release is 400 wood boxes (3x750ml)
2008 Vintage: A year of extremes. Below-normal rainfall, freezing March and April temperatures that required significant frost protection, and temperatures that spiked to 100°F during bloom, which limited production. A relatively cool summer, some heat in August, and a cool Fall. Overall, a long, cool season, which is always optimum for Napa Cabernets. Small berries, which yielded less juice per berry than normal, produced very good concentration in the must. The yield from our portion of Sleeping Lady was quite low, but acidity was very good, pH low, and the tannins are of a quality associated with long ageability.
TASTING NOTES
Deep, opaque ruby color with a purple hue. An array of very exotic aromas, including black cherry, spicy plum, super-ripe raspberry, anise and a hint of graphite. Very generous on the palate, with black cherry and raspberry yielding to a bit of cinnamon, espresso and a kiss of sweet French oak. Long and silky, with a nice underlayment of acidity to support the fruit. The super-fine-grained tannins resolve into a very persistent finish.