2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
2017 Obelisco Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Blend: 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Malbec
AVA: Red Mountain
Vineyards: 100% Obelisco Estate
Bottling: 434 cases, 750ml
Alcohol: 14.8% vol.
Barrels: 30% new oak, 100% French
Tasting Notes: Rich purple/Magenta color. A sniff of the wine in the glass reveals a mix of wild berries, including raspberries, blackberries, blueberry, and salmon berry. Spicing up the nose is nice rounded subtle spice finishing with Vanilla. It is a full palate experience with the same fruit you smell on the nose with an acidity akin to a thimble berry. The spice and vanilla balance the fruit in this wine into a very pleasing finish with a perfect blend of all the flavors. The tail of this wine and the full palate experience leave you with the perfect impression of everything that is wonderful about Red Mountain Cabernet. Quintessential Red Mountain.
Cellaring: Because of the way this wine is made combined with the fact it is 100% Red Mountain Cab, it should age well for the next 10 to 15 years. It is amazing right now.
Production: The fruit for this wine is from the Obelisco Vineyard. The high density planting yields smaller berries, which contribute to the concentrated flavors. Combine this with 20 months in oak which is 100% French and you get a wine that is powerful yet balanced, seamlessly combining great fruit and oak. The average press percentages are represented in this wine.
Harvest notes: 2017 was another warm year following the heat of the last few years. Despite the heat, it seemed like maturation happened at an even tempo right up until harvest. Thankfully the cool nights that happen in September on Red Mountain slowed the sugar production down a bit and let the flavors develop just enough. At the time, it seemed like the new normal would be to harvest in early September. However, no year ever seems like the last one. The phenolics and tannins in the grapes certainly fit the Obelisco style in 2017. With all of the crazy harvest fluctuations, the Obelisco vineyard on Red Mountain just seems to never disappoint us.
