Ramspeck Releases

1994 CABERNET SAUVIGNON "Blackberry Surprise" Well if you have been following my wines, you know that I’m a stickler about detail--fruit selection, vinification and similarly the description that gets written. I always labor over all these aspects- everything’s got to be just right. Now I’m smelling this wine and I’m carried back to small restaurants in the USA ( you’d call ‘em ‘diners’; we really don’t have anything like that in Australia). I connect with all the aromas when pondering upon them. I imagine on the counter still-steaming fresh blackberry pie--oozing with concentrated black syrup, and a hint of cherry as well. The coffee beans have just been ground, fresh black pepper has been crushed over seasoned potatoes. It’s a warm, generous and aromatic inventory, a melange that makes me feel very comfortable- with this metaphor and with this wine. The grapes saw a long "hang time"; three weeks longer than the ‘93 season- cool nights and warm days produced an intriguing array of ripe berry fruits and fresh spices, increasing complexity and a greater flavor-layering. There is a strong mid-palate that’s built up of concentrated blackberry, coffee, cinnamon and fresh ground black pepper. But I can still smell the aroma of fresh tobacco leaf and I can hardly wait for that piece of blackberry pie. Notes and Stats Yield: removing of poorly colored fruit at verasion resulted in a low 3 ton per acre. Vineyard Data: vertical trellis with deleafing around the clusters for extra color and flavor. Vineyard Location: Coombsville 42%, Atlas Peak 21%, Oak Knoll 18%, Calistoga 13%, Mayacamas Ranges 6% Time on Skins: Cuvee #1 18 days; Cuvee #2, extended maceration 28 days on skins. Fermentation Type: 48hr cold soak, 100% Whole berry, 100% co-fermentation of varieties. Yeast: 30% wild yeast, 70% cultivated Rhone Valley yeast. Cooperage: 50% New oak, 50% 1-2y.o. blend of French and American oak. Cepage: Cabernet Sauvignion 82%, Cabernet Franc 9%, Merlot 9%. Clarification: lightly fined, unfiltered.   Click here for other Ramspeck Releases... Also be sure to learn about...