2016 J Bookwalter Winery Chapter 9 Cuvee, Columbia Valley, USA

This is our uber reserve red. It’s a unique vineyard trial which we share to challenge your favorite Cabernet Sauvignon assumptions. Designed to out-perform Bordeaux’s ripest vintages, the French consultant Claude Gros designed our unique low-yield growing style for power and grace unlike anything before.  Fragrant Cabernet Sauvignon accented by the subtle minerality of Syrah enhances the brambly aromatics in this sophisticated blend.

Smooth palate texture shows off concentrated fruit and abundant ripe tannin. Dark berries, espresso and filigree tannins round out this terroir filled tour de force.

VINTAGE

Conner Lee Vineyard block 1988 was planted by Jerry Bookwalter, own rooted at 1,100 feet elevation in sandy loam soils 100 meters deep allowing for ideal irrigation control. This Cabernet block has many excellent vintages, such as 2002, 2007, 2009, 2014, and 2015, and 2016 we consider the finest. Early flowering in late May began another warm year offering early consistent ripeness for Cabernet Sauvignon.

WINEMAKING

Our technique yields two bottles per vine, like the Grand Cru of Bordeaux. The French consultant Claude Gros designed this vine design and harvest selection in our favorite healthy old Cabernet block 1988. The 6–8 cluster yield per vine is like premier Grand Cru Bordeaux vines ripen. We repeat this technique in the Merlot, Cab Franc, Malbec and Syrah vines for blending. The Columbia Valley being warmer than Bordeaux, thinning must take place at 20 brix. We thin to balance natural sugars and acids and allow ripening for six long weeks. Hand harvested, we ferment separately in small lots for 20 days building suave tannins, designed solely for this wine selection. Finished in new Le Grand and Jarnac Bordeaux puncheons, the wines age 20 months sur lees using all techniques to build full body. We choose to blend in 5% Syrah and 5% Merlot for supple texture and dark favors. Using only this field selected cuvée, we select our favorite puncheon expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon and supporting varietals for bottling less than 300 cases.

CASES PRODUCED 490 6-pack cases/750mL

TECHNICAL DATA Bottled: Summer 2018 • Alcohol: 14.9% by volume • pH: 3.85 • RS: 1 g/L