Product Description
Napa Valley
Napanook Vineyard, Yountville, CA, USA
Varieties
87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Petit Verdot
The Vineyard
2009 was an ideal season. Plentiful rainfall in February and May abated winter drought concerns, and a mild spring with few temperature fluctuations contributed to even bud break and healthy bloom. Summer temperatures were consistently warm, without excessive heat spikes, and a long Indian summer allowed the berries to develop perfect complexity and ripeness.
103 ACRES PLANTED
SOIL TYPE: GRAVELLY AND CLAY LOAM
CLIMATE: WARM DRY SUMMERS TEMPERED BY COOLING BREEZES FROM THE SAN PABLO BAY. COLD, WET WINTERS. MID-VALLEY LOCATION AFFORDS MODERATE TEMPERATURES.
DRY FARMED
ENJOYING A TEMPERATE CLIMATE, THE NAPANOOK VINEYARD’S VOLCANIC, WELL DRAINING SOILS ARE SPECIFICALLY SUITED TO GROWING CABERNET SAUVIGNON AND THE OTHER BORDEAUX VARIETALS WHICH COMPOSE THE DOMINUS ESTATE WINES.
IN 1838, GEORGE YOUNT, WHO GAVE HIS NAME TO THE NEARBY TOWN OF YOUNTVILLE, PLANTED SOME OF THE FIRST VINES OF THE VALLEY HERE. IN 1850, HE SOLD THE LAND TO CHARLES HOPPER, ANOTHER EARLY SETTLER, AS PART OF A SIGNIFICANT LAND PURCHASE EXTENDING TO THE NORTH. SINCE THAT TIME, THE ESTATE HAS HAD SEVERAL ESTEEMED OWNERS, INCLUDING HUGH LA RUE, A PIONEER IN THE USE OF ROOTSTOCKS, AND JOHN DANIEL, THE OWNER OF INGLENOOK, WHO ADDED THE GRAPES FROM THE NAPANOOK VINEYARD IN THE INGLENOOK BLEND FROM 1943.
DURING THE WINTER SEASON, PRECISE CANE PRUNING ENSURES IDEAL CLUSTER SPACING FOR OPTIMAL FRUIT RIPENING.DRY FARMING RELIES ON A DEEP ROOT SYSTEM TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NATURAL WATER SOURCES FROM RAIN AND UNDERGROUND SUPPLIES. THE FRENCH PLOUGH REMOVES INVASIVE WEEDS AND ENCOURAGES DEEP ROOT GROWTH.
CLUSTER THINNING OPTIMIZES QUALITY THROUGH YIELD REGULATION.STRATEGIC TRELLISING ENSURES PERFECT CANOPY MANAGEMENT.FREQUENT GRAPE SAMPLING PROVIDES INVALUABLE DATA FOR DETERMINING OPTIMAL RIPENESS.
RINSING THE GRAPES 10 TO 15 DAYS BEFORE HARVEST REMOVES DUST AND ENHANCES THE PURITY OF THE FRUIT.
HAND-PICKING WITH SMALL FRENCH SHEARS INSTEAD OF HARVEST KNIVES MINIMIZES BRUISING AND VINE DAMAGE.
SMALL HARVEST BASKETS PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE CLUSTERS AS THEY ARE TRANSPORTED TO THE WINERY.
THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE VINES IS PICKED A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE SHADY SIDE RESPECTING PERFECT MATURITY.
DRY FARMING IS MORE THAN JUST AVOIDING IRRIGATION OF THE VINES. IT IS AN ACTIVE FORM OF PRESERVING MOISTURE IN THE GROUND THROUGH THE USE OF COVER CROPS AND CAREFUL CULTIVATION SO THAT IRRIGATION IS NOT NEEDED. THE REWARD IS WINES THAT ARE DEEPLY CONNECTED TO THE SOIL AND COMPLEX IN FLAVOR.
The Harvest
Harvest was an intense effort, beginning on October 5th and was completed on October 12th, just before the heavy rainfall on October 13th.
BEGINNING DATE OF HARVEST: October 5
FINAL DATE OF HARVEST: October 12
The Cellar
SEPARATE LOT-BY-LOT FERMENTATION. CLUSTER SORTING BY HAND IS COMPLEMENTED BY AN OPTICAL BERRY SORTING SYSTEM. GENTLE PUMPING-OVER EXTRACTS AROMAS, COLOR AND TANNINS. VERTICAL WINE PRESS AT LOW PRESSURE DELICATELY RELEASES COMPONENTS FROM THE SKIN. RACKING BARREL TO BARREL IN 100% FRENCH OAK REMOVES SEDIMENT AND ASSURES CLARIFICATION OF THE WINE DURING AGING. EGG WHITE FINING ELIMINATES IMPURITIES.
THE VISTALYS OPTICAL SORTER IS AN AUTOMATED BERRY SORTING SYSTEM USING IMAGE ANALYSIS TO ELIMINATE UNWANTED ELEMENTS, LIKE STEMS, AT A RATE OF UP TO TEN TONS AN HOUR.
PERCENTAGE OF NEW BARRELS: 20%
BOTTLING DATE: June 2011
9-LITER CASES PRODUCED: 3700
RELEASE DATE: May 2012
