PO Box 2486
Napa, CA 94558
(800)810-WINE
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2005 Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Vineyard In many of the sites where we love to work with, the location defines the wine. In this case it is purely mountain top. This vineyard is located directly east of Oakville on the next mountain east of the Vaca Mountain Range, which frames the eastern side of Napa Valley. At 1500 to 1700 feet, the vineyard is known for huge boulders, red volcanic soil and very harsh growing conditions. The berries that survive are small, thick skinned, dark, intense and tannic.
Winemaking The fruit was hand sorted, destemmed and crushed with high whole berry content. After cold soaking for 6 days, it was fermented for 11 days with the maximum temperature of 86 degrees, followed by 25 days of extended maceration in a variable capacity tank. The malolactic fermentation took place in the barrel. The wine was racked 5 times, blended with a touch of Merlot and Cabernet Franc and bottled in August of 2005, unfined and unfiltered. Tasting Notes Very dark and opaque in the glass, one whiff says wild and intense. Aromas of blackberry, current, licorice and tobacco jump out. In the mouth the wine is concentrated and intense. The tannins are completely mouth-coating, yet the acidity and fruits are evident to balance the wine out. Ample amount of oak to match the intense mountain fruit says this is a long term candidate, possibly the biggest wine we have ever made. The ’05 Stagecoach is a classic example of a Surh Luchtel wine meant for long term aging. 700 cases produced
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