2016 Foolhardy Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Columbia Valley
Vineyards: Elephant Mountain (planted 1999), Red Willow (planted 1991), Stone Tree (planted 2006)
Varietal Composition: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Cooperage: 100% French oak, of which 49% was new (Tonnellerie Cavin)
Alcohol: 14.6%
pH: 3.71
Aging: 22 months in French oak barrels
Bottling Date: August 28, 2018
Production: 15 barrels
Release Date: April 1, 2019
Wine Note: A small-lot Cabernet Sauvignon showcasing the best of the Columbia Valley. Vivid, ripe and intense, with a range of black cherry, wild raspberry and a hint of black currant flavors. A wine that convinces without shouting, featuring supple texture, depth and polished oak undertones. Dark chocolate and subtle spice nuances extend through the finish, with firm, fine-grained tannins and a lingering interplay of mouthwatering fruit tones.
This has the concentration to enjoy on its own and the vibrancy to complement a wide range of foods. There are few wrong choices (other than grapefruit and anchovies, IOO) and the point is to drink our wines however you like.
Showing well at release, the 2016 Foolhardy Cabernet Sauvignon will improve with cellaring that allows the tannin and oak tones to mellow and further complexity to develop.
Vintage Note: A no-problem growing season. The 2016 vintage started fast, with warm weather in early spring and into the start of summer. It cooled down a bit mid-summer, allowing Bordeaux red varieties to ripen gradually in good conditions. The end of the season was mild and dry, with Cabernet harvest the last week of September.