TASTING NOTES
The 2004 vintage is one of power, depth, and nuance. The growing season began unusually early. At Hartwell, we saw bud break come the week of March 8. Spring was warm, and this pushed vine growth forward, and it was shaping up to be an early harvest from very early in the season. Relatively cool summer temperatures meant for good color development and proper physiological ripeness.
Yields were naturally low, which meant it was unnecessary to aggressively thin the crop loads in order to bring the vines into balance. By the beginning of September all the elements had come together for a harvest of remarkable quality. A sustained heat wave from September 4 through September 13 accelerated the ripening, and made for a compressed harvest with yields even lower than predicted. Hartwell’s Cabernet Sauvignon yield was down 30% from normal, due mostly to the late season heat and the necessary triage that followed.
WINEMAKER NOTES
"Petit Verdot was so complex and powerful in 2004 that we made the decision to add it to the Cabernet Sauvignon blend, even though all previous vintages had been 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. While this is a change, it stays true to our mission: to craft the best wines possible that reflect the greatness of this estate."
"2004 Hartwell Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is rich, dark and complex, with soft tannins and mouth-filling flavor. Blueberry, blackberry, and crème de cassis dominate the aromas and flavors, giving way to coffee and crushed stones."
-- Winemaker Benoit Touquette
Appellation: Stags Leap District, Napa Valley
Vineayrds: 100% Hartwell Estate
Varietal Composition: 97.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.3% Petit Verdot
Produced: 1,017 cases
Other products in the category Library Wines:
|
|
||||