2007 August Briggs 'Monte Rosso Vineyard' Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2007 August Briggs “Monte Rosso” Cabernet Sauvignon is a very full and satisfying wine. It has deep garnet color with inviting and complex aromas of oak, spice, and ripe fruit. On the palate, dense ripe fruit flavors of berries and plum mingle with vanilla, mocha and spice. Ample, but well integrated tannins ensure that this wine will age well for years. Naturally, this is a steak wine - use accordingly. This wine is big and drinkable now, but will mellow and soften with time and be best between now and 2015.

As with all our Cabernet, before destemming and crushing, the fruit was scrutinized cluster by cluster across our sorting conveyor, allowing only the best fruit to pass through. After a two day cold soak, the must was inoculated with yeast and allowed to warm. A combination of punchdowns and pumpovers were employed to gently attain the maximum extraction from the skins. At dryness the must was gently pressed, the wine inoculated with malo-lactic culture and put to barrel. The wine was barrel aged for 20 months (50% French Oak, 50% American Oak) prior to bottling. 294 cases were produced.