2007 Bell Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 6 Rutherford

Production: 1,200 6-pack cases
Located on the Rutherford Bench in the heart of the Napa Valley, our Clone 6 vineyard is located on a well-drained, gravelly knoll. The vines receive extensive canopy management during the summer to yield intensely flavored grapes. Aged in barrel for almost two years, and given an additional 18 - 24 months bottle age, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Clone 6 is neither fined nor filtered. Supple and elegant, this wine will age beautifully for many years.


Vineyard
The Beckstoffer Georges III vineyard is located adjacent to Caymus, off the Silverado Trail in the renowned Rutherford subappellation of the Napa Valley. It was originally planted by Georges de Latour of Beaulieu Vineyard
in 1928 and replanted by Andy Beckstoffer, commencing in 1991. Following his work identifying the differences between various Cabernet sauvignon clones, Anthony Bell spent many hours in this vineyard, introducing Clone 6
from budwood taken off BV’s block 4, where he conducted the clonal trials in 1980. Those vines are among the oldest in the Valley, and are planted in gravelly loam soils.

Vinification
The grapes are hand-harvested and gently crushed to retain 40% whole berries. Prior to yeasting with BDX yeast, the grapes soaked for 48 hours, increasing the richness and intensity of the fruit character. Color extraction uses a combination of destelage (draining juice and returning over the skins), with gentle cap irrigations. The grapes were
drained and pressed at dryness. The free-run and press wines were kept separate. Following fermentation the wine went through malo-lactic fermentation in barrel. The wine was aged in 100% French oak, thin stave barrels for 22 months and racked every other month to naturally clarify the wine and soften the tannins. With no filtration or fining, the wine was laid down in bottle for 12 months aging prior to release.

Vintage Notes
The 2007 growing season was a wonderful year for grape growing. Overall, it was very dry and cool. Winter temperatures were warmer than normal into spring resulting in earlier budding, bloom and set in the vineyards
across all varieties. Few days in summer topped 100 degrees, with fewer days in the 90s than normal. This meant less irrigation, allowing the grapes to mature naturally and slowly. A brief heat spike around Labor Day added the
boost of sugar development that growers were looking for to complement the excellent acid. Harvest commenced in mid-August and was evenly paced. With wines of incredible intensity and concentration, 2007 looks to be the best
vintage in many years.

Tasting Notes
Our 2007 vintage is characterized by dark ruby color, firm supple tannins, good natural acidity and concentrated flavors. Overtones of black cherry, currant and blackberry in combination with undertones of chocolate, coffee and pepper meld with the vanilla and cedar nuances of French oak in waves of complexity. On the palate the wine is deep and brooding, with great structure and depth of flavor. The wine has concentrated yet supple tannins, good fruit and acidity and a persistent finish, contributing to a finely balanced wine consistent with the classic Bordeaux style of our prior releases. This vintage shows great potential and promises to be long lived.
Technical Analysis

Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon, 100%, Clone 6
Source
Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard, Rutherford, Napa Valley

Harvest Date October 15, 2007
Harvest Sugar 26.3 Brix
Harvest Acid 0.45 gm/100ml
Total Acid 0.60 gm/100ml
pH 3.64
Alcohol 14.4%
Aging 22 months in 100% French Oak, 86% new
Bottle Date July 2009
Production 1,292 six-bottle cases