2001 La Cime Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

This is the first vintage of the new millennium, by some accounts, and the first of our wines to include grapes from some new Bordeaux cuttings planted here at the estate in tight spacing, on vigor-limiting rootstock. It is also the first vintage to include significant amounts of wine from these plantings in our vineyard on Bradford Mountain, where our cool coastal climate is taken to the extreme. Up there the grapes hang, ripening for an extended time, maintaining vital acidity.

With our 2001 Cabernet we experience a truly exceptional vintage with unusual weight, expressing profound balance between an immediately appealing ripe dark fruit with a supporting counterpoint suggesting red berries and aromatic spice. The ample mid-palate and structure support the wine across the palate and serve well at the table where it stands up with flavorful stews as well as grilled meats. Flavors are classic with distinct cherry, blueberry and blackberry impressions rounded by our aromatic and earthy terroir.

The grapes from our state-of-the-art, densely planted vineyard of Bordeaux clones contribute to the depth of flavors presented in this vintage. With the addition of these vines, the bar will be raised at each of the next few vintages. Expect our Cabernets to consistently gain in depth and quality of flavors as these new grape sources strengthen our already well-regarded Cabernets.

—Winemaker Fred Payne

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