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This Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of several mountain and valley vineyards, creating a complex and balanced wine. The goal of the winemaker was to layer the wine with flavors from the individual vineyards on Spring Mountain, Howell Mountain, Pope Valley, Rutherford and St. Helena. In addition, the contribution of Merlot from Carneros and Napa increases the complexity and richness.

Once again we have chosen the best barrels from the best vineyards in 1999 to create this reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Each year weather conditions throughout the growing season contribute unique flavor characteristics to the vineyard. In 1999 the intensity of color and flavors were the result of weather, soil and cultural practices combined with winemaking practices. Selecting the best of the vintage for a reserve begins with recognizing the fruit potential in the field (67% hillside vineyards), then maximizing quality in the cellar.

In a continuing effort to focus and develop the flavors of our Napa Valley Cabernet, the winemaking team at Liparita has produced a wine from several vineyard sites and flavor profiles to capture the essence of our vision of Cabernet Sauvignon. Vineyards from Spring Mountain, Rutherford, St. Helena, and Oak Knoll mesh in a manner that leaves no other conclusion that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. The different vineyard sites each contribute a component to the flavors and aromas, broad palate and structure from the valley floor, olive, cassis and extract from Spring Mountain. The inclusion of Merlot increases the complexity and richness of the blend. This wine was aged for 20 months in French barrels. This 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon promises classic aromas and flavors. It has a sturdy backbone of black fruit and cassis and soft wood with hints of white pepper, cocoa, nutmeg and allspice. Careful barrel selection has contributed a background of broad, but velvety, tannins that frame a well defined palate. While this Cabernet Sauvignon will reward current drinking, it will continue to improve with age for several more years.

This cuvee is comprised from selected barrels of our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that we declassified to create this affordable, everyday wine. It represents a tremendous value in Napa Valley Cabernet.

Selecting the best of the vintage for a reserve begins with recognizing the fruit potential in the field (67% hillside vineyards), then maximizing quality in the cellar. Each vineyard lot is aged separately and after 18 months of aging in 60% new French oak barrels, we taste all the barrels and select the best tasting barrels for blending for our reserve. Once the blend is made, the wine goes back to barrel for another 6 months for a finishing touch of barrel aging. Red and black fruits, toast, spice, black cherries, matchstick, and hints of chocolate weave an intricate, rich tapestry of complex flavors. A deeply aromatic wine with hints of eucalyptus and menthol. The broad mouth of flavors and velvety tannins provide good definition and a long finish to entice your palate.

Our only reserve Chardonnay using grapes from Beckstoffer's Carneros Lake Vineyard. Using two clones, Dijon #76 and Robert Young, we fermented this wine in 100% new French oak barrels and encouraged the indigenous or wild yeast for fermentation. With 100% M-L fermentation and 9 months of stirring the yeast, additional complexity and texture is added.

Aromas of red currant and cassis dominate the bouquet, while enveloping characteristics of cedar box and tobacco leaves add complexity and richness. Berry and spicy strawberry overtones tantalize the palate. A well-structured wine with a well-defined medium finish. Barrel age complexity works hand in hand with ripe red fruit characteristics, producing a quality wine rich with promise.

As we pride ourselves on producing wines of exceptional quality and character, we only produce a Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon if the vintage year truly warrants the designation. Our last Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon designate was 2000. Selecting the best of the vintage for our 100% Cabernet Sauvignon reserve begins with recognizing the fruit potential, then maximizing quality in the cellar.

With this 2000 vintage, the quality of our Carneros Merlot was of such a high standard that it was bottled as a 100% vineyard designated wine. This wine is blended from four distinct vineyard blocks, all within the Beckstoffer Vineyards; Carneros Lake and Las Amigas Vineyards. Condensed aromas of black cherry, sweet vanilla, crème brulee and raspberry jam are present in this intensely colored Merlot. A broad palate of flavors, with hints of allspice and nutmeg accompany the firm but medium structure. Chocolate and tobacco notes contribute to a rich, well- balanced wine that shows an attractive oak contribution and a polish from the 14 months of bottle age prior to release. As with all Liparita reds, this 2000 Carneros Merlot will reward both current drinking and continue to improve for 5-7 years with cellaring.

Luscious aromas of red cherry with plummy spiced overtones are supported by a strong mineral backbone. Background flavors of toasty oak with hints of menthol add layers of complexity and smokiness. The wine's well-defined acid and tannin structures support the ample fruit presence. As with all Liparita reds, this 2001 Carneros Merlot will reward current drinking and continue to improve for 5-7 years with cellaring.