2006 Hendry 'Hendry Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA Magnum

Hendry Blocks 8, 16, 17 and 18 are located on bench lands west of the town of Napa. The vines grow on thin stony soil between 150 and 300 feet above sea level. Morning fog and strong afternoon breezes from San Pablo Bay moderate our vineyard’s climate.

The vines in Block 8 were planted in 1974 and are 35 years old. They are spaced 8’ x 10’, cordon-trained. The clone is U.C.D. 7, grafted to St. George roots. A seven-foot vertical trellis system supports the cordon and the canopy. Average production is approximately 2 tons per acre. Blocks 16, 17, and 18 were planted in 1996, 1996, and 1997. They are also on St. George rootstock. They are grafted to U.C.D. clones 7 and 4, and 337/15. Their inclusion in our Cabernet Sauvignon marks a milestone in the vines' maturity. At 12 and 13 years old, they have reached a significant level of depth and complexity.

In 2006, the median budbreak was April 15- 17th. Median bloom was June 4 and median veraison was August 9th. Harvest was October 10 – 17th. Yields averaged 2.2 tons per acre throughout the Cabernet blocks. After a warm extended maceration, the wine was aged for 21 months in 100% new French oak barrels. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Release notes: The majority of the grapes for this wine (54%) still come from the venerable Block 8, one of our oldest and most consistently distinctive blocks. Silky entry, surprisingly rich upon first opening, though patience is rewarded. Textbook Cabernet aromas of berry/currant, cocoa, mint, eucalyptus and cedary oak reveal themselves with time and air. Structured, fine-grained tannins.