Situated in the mountains above Conn Valley and near the base of Howell Mountain, the Buehler Estate vineyards are planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon. The juxtaposed topography of steeply sloped hillsides with eastern exposures against very gently sloping hills with southern and southwestern exposures hints at the tumultuous geologic past of the Estate; extensive faulting resulted in at least three distinct soil types. Not surprisingly, grapes grown on the different soils give different characteristics to the finished wines; these differences are often as great as the differences between various Bordeaux varieties and allow us to blend within the variety of Cabernet Sauvignon to craft a truly multi-faceted Estate wine.
The 2004 harvest will be fondly remembered by winemakers and cellar workers alike for arriving a full three weeks earlier than the 2003 harvest. An early bud break coupled with a warm, even ripening summer weather pattern gave us fully ripened grapes which produced intensely colored and flavorful wines with beautiful, ripe tannins to lend structure. The wines were flashy right out of the fermentor and show great depth of flavors and promise to be long-lived in the cellar.
After the completion of the primary fermentation, the wine was immediately delivered to barrels to initiate the secondary malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged 18 months in barrels: 45% of which were new French oak, and 5% of which were American oak barrels.
The aromas hint at black fruit: ripe black cherries and black plums. Enticing barrel qualities of cola and spice complement the fruit aromas. On the palate, the wine shows layers of deeply extracted flavors that only mature hillside vineyards can give. Our Estate Cabernet is the most age-worthy wine we produce and may be enjoyed anytime over the next 15 years. For those who seek youthful fresh cabernet fruit aromas and a more structured wine, drink it from 2006 through 2010. If you prefer the less fruity, more developed bottle bouquet aromas and a softer, more velvety wine on the palate, drink it from 2011-2021.
David Cronin
Winemaker
Appellation/Designation Napa Valley/Estate Bottled
Varietal Composition 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Brix at Harvest 25.7
TA 0.62 g/100 ml
PH 3.75
Alcohol 14.9% vol
Production 3000 cases
Suggested Retail $36.00
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