2019 Cabernet Sauvignon

The Story

Captûre’s Pine Mountain vineyard straddles the peak, a jaw dropping
3,000 feet above sea level. The unforgiving mountaintop is dry with fine volcanic gravel and rocky patches offering no traction for anything but the hardiest grapevines. The clusters that survive here are few, small and sparsely fruited– giving every tiny, thick-skinned berry the space to reach its full potential. This desolate place is planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon, with smaller blocks of Merlot and the highest elevation Sauvignon Blanc in the U.S.

Winemaking

Our 2019 Pine Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon was handpicked in the cool morning far above the fog line of the mountain, before being destemmed and sorted at the winery. The fruit goes through a quick cold soak for 3 days before fermentation begins. The juice is pumped over between 2 and 4 times per day to help soften the powerful Pine Mountain tannins during this time. After fermentation, the juice is drained and goes through a traditional basket press to allow for the ideal levels of extraction before the wine is put into a variety of barrels for malolactic fermentation and aging.

Tasting Notes

This Cabernet Sauvignon wraps the rugged spirit of the mountain in an elegant frame. Impossibly dark and inky, a bouquet of freshly picked raspberry jumps out of the glass with cola spice, violets, blueberry pie and hints of brown sugar. Rich raspberry compote, cassis, and milk chocolate notes reveal themselves on the palate, overlaid with warm pepper and spice box aromas. The palate is prominent with mountainous tannins that will age gracefully in the cellar.