VHR Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Vintage
VHR 2009 A perfect growing season—very few nights of frost, enough moisture in the soil from late spring rains, and a beautifully mild summer with virtually no heat spikes. Fruit hung in near-ideal conditions for a lengthy time resulting in deliciously ripe berries with lush soft tannins.
2009 is our second vintage and it displays all the rich, layered nuances of Vine Hill Ranch. Block 4, in the loamy soils of our benchland, yields vibrant, cherry red fruit with fine tannins. Planted creekside, Block 7 imparts a wet stone, graphite minerality with soft, ethereal tannins. Our hillside Block 6 carries the flavors of the encroaching forest—bay laurel, leafy damp earth, and dark fruit; its tannins are pensive and tightly woven.
In the glass, the wine is a beguiling opaque ruby. Aromas of sun-ripe blackberries and cassis intertwine with the forest floor—wild chaparral, savory herbs and fennel. Black tea, rose petal and orange pekoe mingle with dusty bittersweet cocoa and a wet granite minerality. The 2009 VHR, Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon exudes a profound gravitas, a pure and elegant vitality that dances across the palate.
2009 harvest began in the early morning of October 5th, ending on October 10th. Grapes were scrupulously hand sorted and aged in French Oak for 9 months, then blended and returned to barrel for an additional 12 months. 375 cases were bottled in July 2011.
