2015 was another near-perfect vintage, on par, if not better, than 2013, yielding another crop of smaller-berried fruit that produced a intense wine, and should stand out for decades to come. Compared to last year, 2014 produced smaller berries, which means a higher ratio of skins to juice, leading to higher levels of color and tannin. We had a few heat spikes in late July, and the weather was generally dry, warm even and consistent throughout the season. We picked the Cabernet under ideal conditions in mid September, and expect 2015 will turn out to be yet another new pinnacle for our Estate - triple back to back stellar vintages following 2012 and 2013 in our opinion, with 2015 having a bit of an edge at the moment.
Winemaker Notes
We hand sorted our grapes both prior to and after de-stemming, and following a four day whole berry maceration and cold soak, we began primary fermentation. After nearly three weeks, the wine was gently pressed-off and racked to 80% new Darnajou and Ermitagee 36 month-aged tight grain French Oak barrels to complete a slow secondary fermentation for another few months. As with all our cabernets, it will be bottle aged for around 24 months before its release.
93 - "The deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Pellet Vineyard has quite a complex nose of baked berries, cassis and black cherry preserves with spice box, potpourri and lifted char. Full, rich and concentrated in the soft and plush mouth, it's a little low on acid but still very impressive, finishing long.." – Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
93 – “The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is laced with dark cherry, plum, sweet French oak, mocha, licorice and spice. Pliant, supple and resonant, the 2015 offers terrific depth and persistence in a resonant, inviting style that holds considerable near to medium-term appeal. The 2015 finishes with substantial power, intensity and darkness, all of which add to its distinct personality.” – Anthony Galloni, Vinous Media
92+ - "The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Pellet Vineyard, like the Henry’s Reserve, is a step up over the more mid-weight, elegant 2014. Offering up terrific notes of blackberries, blueberries, toasted spices, violets, and graphite, it stays tight and focused on the palate, with good acidity and ample tannin. It’s not quite as broad and expansive as the Henry’s Reserve, but offers a classic, high-quality style that’s going to benefit from 2-4 years of cellaring and shine for a decade or more." – Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com
92 – “Dense with polished tannins and lots of blueberry and dark chocolate character. Full body, tight and rich yet a tension and freshness at the end. Better in 2019.” – James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com