William Hill Estate : Napa Valley

2001 Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Grape Source

This Reserve wine is a blend of Silverado benchland and Atlas Peak mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon (93%), Petit Verdot (6%) and Merlot (1%) from the Napa Valley.  The grapes were hand harvested the first week in October 2001.

Vintage

The 2001 growing season started with early bud break and bloom and the pace only quickened.  It was shaping up to be one of those early-ripening years where flavors lagged way behind. A cool August slammed on the brakes and the year finished with extended hang time and well developed flavors and tannins. A slightly smaller than average crop was harvested the first week of October.

Winemaking

Twenty percent of the wine was whole-berry fermented. Aging took place in 50 % new barrels, 50% 1- to 3-year-old French oak for 24 months.

Winemaker notes

Our Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied, fruit driven wine with generous oak spice notes.  The vines from our estate on Silverado Bench, with its rolling terrain and rocky soils, produce tiny berries in long, loose clusters that possess intense, rich flavor.

The 2001 William Hill Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon keeps with the character of the estate.  The color is deep and saturated and the nose is redolent of ripe blueberry and black berry with notes of cedar and pepper. French oak aging gives the wine additional notes of caramel and baking spices. The finish is of berries with a satisfying hint of earth. Tannins are resolved enough for current enjoyment with roasted meats and stews.

Food Recommendations

This approachable wine pairs beautifully with roasted meats, rich stews or tomato based sauces. Try it with dishes such as grilled lamb chops served over a bed of creamy polenta and sautéed greens.  Enjoy with a bacon wrapped filet mignon and truffle infused mashed potatoes.