2019 Madison County Cabernet Sauvignon
2019 Madison County Cabernet Sauvignon
With the 2019 vintage we walked a stylistic tightrope between Europe and California with many of our reds. Ripe cassis, leather and tobacco aromas are translated into flavors on the palate, and joined by blackberry, deep cherry and plum. This wine proves it is Cabernet, with richness and power supported by serious tannin. The wood is integrated but present in a way that has become classical for this variety. The youthful density of the wine gives it persistence, as the wine lingers well past the first impression. Though there is some of the sunshine in a bottle character that we see with west coast Cabernet it still has the finesse and poise that Cabernet can possess in cooler areas.
In Stock
Composition / Blend
90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
Size
750mL
Wine Specs
Vintage
2019
pH
3.86
Aging
Ready to be enjoyed now, or held up to five years.
Bottling Date
1/27/2021
Residual Sugar
.17 g/L
Alcohol %
13.4
Winemaker Notes
This is a wine we cannot make every year. It takes a special vintage like 2017 or 2019 for us to be able to ripen Cabernet Sauvignon to the point where we are excited to do a varietal bottling. There are sites in Virginia that lend themselves to the grape, but where we farm, we find Merlot and Cabernet Franc to be more consistently ripe and concentrated. That said, when you get Cabernet Sauvignon like we did in 2019, you have to bottle it. I will note that we are still working with blending, using the other Bordeaux varieties, so it leans a bit closer in philosophy to Left Bank wines. However, it is quintessentially Cabernet, with the aroma, power and structure the grape is known for, and the other grapes are playing supporting roles, helping to draw out and emphasize the qualities we love in a proper Cabernet Sauvignon.
Production Notes
Aged for 15 months in French barrique, 40% new.
Vineyard Notes
2019 was an excellent vintage with balanced whites and reds with ripe intensity and richness. The season began early, with picking for sparkling at the very beginning of August, resulting from a moderately early budbreak. While this notably early start to the vintage was psychologically challenging, the fruit was well-balanced and we’re excited to see how it develops in the cellar.
It is understandable to compare 2019 to 2017, however yields were more typical and balanced in 2019, compared to high yielding 2017. We were able to apply the learnings from the very ripe 2017 vintage to our farming and picking decisions in 2019, which often led us to pick blocks earlier; and rather than simply pursuing sugar ripeness, we have been able to farm and pick based on phenological ripeness and aromatic complexity.
Aging
Ready to be enjoyed now, or held up to five years.