Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, ”LUKE” fra Goldschmidt Vineyards, Alexander Valley - Sonoma
LUKE GOLDSCHMIDT CABERNET SAUVIGNON is a project between veteran winemaker Nick Goldschmidt and his winemaker son, Luke. Together they generate a wine that shows a balance of aspect, sunlight, water and microclimate. Luke graduated from Fresno State with degrees in Winemaking and Chemistry. He has finished internships in some of the most famous wine regions of the world; Oakville, Chile, France, Spain, Argentina and New Zealand. It won’t be long until he’s back in Healdsburg to make the next vintage of Luke Cabernet Sauvignon.
It felt more like a normal year in Sonoma County in 2017. After years of drought, the water table was still in good shape after 2016. Bud break came a bit early despite a cool spring. A very mild summer followed and ripening was slow and steady. However we did receive two heat spikes in the vintage which pushed things along nicely. The clusters filled out with berries growing more normal in size. The hang time was longer than normal and so better for tannin and flavor development without a run up in sugar. Once we started picking though, the season was very compressed. The yields were down just a bit but the flavors and concentrations were fantastic.
Nicely focused red cherry and red raspberry aromas. Loaded with red berry fruit flavors with a touch of caramel, dark chocolate, and toasty oak. Full and well-structured from the long hang time. The texture is smooth and the mouth medium bodied. White pepper and spice in the finish with long and supple tannins.
Alc. 14,3%, Fadlagret: 12 months in French, American, Hungarian oak, 20% new oak, Drue: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.