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OUR THREE CABERNETS
Distictively Different :
B.R. Cohn's Olive Hill vineyards encompass 90 acres with the majority planted with Cabernet Sauvignon varietal grapes. As mentioned in the last newsletter, the microclimate at Olive Hill Estate is particularly conducive to this variety of grape. The property is divided into 25 distinct blocks, which are determined by a variety of criteria including: the location of the vineyard, hill-side or flatland, exposure, the clone and root stock combination, trellising system and age of each vineyard block.
Each block is harvested and fermented separately in small stainless steel tanks. After fermentation is complete, while still retaining their block designation, they are put in French oak barrels for aging. During aging, we begin tasting each lot to determine which blocks will go into our Olive Hill Special Selection (which is very limited production, between 150-200 cases). This usually comes from the same one or two outstanding blocks on the property. Following that selection, we determine which goes to the remaining batches of Olive Hill Estate Cabernet. This production ranges between 4,000 - 5,000 cases. The balance that doesn't make it into the Olive Hill Estate program becomes the base for our Silver Label Cabernet.
Silver Label is our largest production wine. It is a very popular wine for everyday use, and a favorite amongst restaurants' pour by the glass programs. To meet the increased demand, we have contracted growers in Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake Counties to blend in with our Estate Cabernet that has been designated for that program.
Silver Label is aged approximately 16 months in older French oak barrels. Production in 2007 was 54,000 cases and continues to grow rapidly. Olive Hill Special Selection and Olive Hill Estate Cabernet are very limited in quantity and aged much longer in French oak barrels, with 55% new barrels added each year, and the balance being one and two years old. Olive Hill Estate Cabernet is aged 22 months and the Special Selection is aged 30 months before bottling.
Thanks to Tom Montgomery, our winemaker, and the wine making staff, we are able to taste, designate and blend the blocks for each specific program. In doing so, we ensure consistent high-quality wines in each category for every vintage.
I encourage you to try all three of our Cabernets and use them for occasions appropriate for each wine. Silver Label pairs well with BBQ's or your favorite TV show, while Olive Hill Estate is perfect for those occasions when you want the very best on the table, and the Special Selection is ideal to impress your wine collector friends. I hope this helps you understand the different levels of Cabernet Sauvignon we are producing and how they are created. The 2006 Silver Label, 2005 Olive Hill and 2003 Special Selection are extremely worthy wines, all of which have outstanding value in their category and are available now.
Don't forget to ask about the availability of older vintage wines, as we often release B.R. Cohn wines from my personal wine library.
Enjoy,
Bruce R. Cohn
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