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Alexander Valley
2015 Rockaway Cabernet Sauvignon 1.5L
6 In Stock
Winemaking Notes
The 2015 Rockaway has wonderful concentrated flavors of dark plum and red currant with notes of tobacco and leather. The earthy minerality of the wine is balanced out by notes of baking spices with a rich, complex structure and a long lingering finish. Enjoy this wine now or cellar it for enjoyment in 8 to 10 years.
Vineyard Notes
Established in 1994, Rockaway is planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon, but has the other four classic Bordeaux varieties planted on site as well. Rising up to an elevation of 750 feet, the land generally slopes northeast and southwest, with soils comprised
of gravelly clay subsoil over fractured Greywacke sandstone. This well-drained, low pH earth tends to encourage the production of small-berried clusters, ideal for making a bold, concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon with juicy red and black fruit character, and
an elegantly round and seductive mid-palate.
Production Notes
The 2015 vintage was warm overall, but cooler than the previous few years. Budbreak was very early, weeks ahead of average. Yields were very low, in some blocks half of what we’d normally harvest. The low yields led to sugars accumulating much faster in the clusters than the speed at which ripening was occurring. Cool and hot weather alternated the rest of the summer. The acidity and tannins in the berries remained firm as we were looking at the possibility of a record early harvest date, so we chose to let
the sugars go, and waited for the acids to lower and for the tannins to soften before we picked. Satisfied with the flavors, and with the acid at the right level, we picked all three varietals during a brief period around the third week of September.
Wine Specs
Vintage
2015
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Alexander Valley
Acid
0.62g/100mL
pH
3.7
Aging
26 months in 100% French oak barrels, 53% new
Alcohol %
14.5
Wine Enthusiast
92
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