Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 (California)

Description

• Subtle oak
• Bright cherry & plum
• Sweet vanilla & cocoa
• Soft tannins

This 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep red and violet in color. It opens with lively aromas of bright cherry, sweet vanilla and black tea. The palate is smooth and bold with captivating flavors of red fruit, plum, cocoa and a touch of spice. It's balanced acidity and soft tannins lead to a lingering, fruit forward finish. This elegant California Cabernet style is nicely restrained from excessive oak and alcohol.

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon features fruit from Sebastiani's own Borden Vineyard in the Lodi AVA as well as fruit from vineyards in Santa Barbara County and Sonoma County. The vineyards are a collection of fruit that produce full bodied, concentrated wines.

The 2017 growing season started with record setting rainfalls, delaying bud break from years past. Spring and summer experienced a mixture of foggy, warm, and windy conditions. The summer months were moderately warm allowing the grapes to mature at an ideal pace. Extreme heat spikes at the end of August to early September pushed harvest ahead of schedule. All of the fruit entered the winery from September 18 – November 1, 2017 at optimum ripeness.

After a three-day cold soak, the grapes were crushed and fermented at relatively warm temperatures in stainless steel tanks. After pressing, each lot was blended or fined depending on flavor, color and tannin concentration. The wine was aged racked on lees and into neutral oak barrels. A small portion of Merlot was blended in prior to bottling to enhance aromatics, complexity and flavor.