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Appellation: |
Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District |
Varietals: |
Cabernet Sauvignon 81%, Merlot 16%,
Petit Verdot 3% |
Aged: |
22 Months in New French Oak Barrels |
Production: |
3,486 Cases |
Rating: |
95 Points, Wine Spectator |
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Winemaker Notes |
The 1997 Spring Mountain Reserve is a meritage styled
wine that utilizes four of the five classic Bordeaux varietals.
The heart of the blend comes from our La Perla property
complimented by some outstanding lots from Alba and Miravalle. |
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The 1997 Vintage |
| Beautiful spring weather and bud break in early March
preceded a cooler than normal summer. Vine fertility was
lower than 1998, despite the smaller crop levels, most vineyards
were slow to ripen due to the cool weather. Glorious
fall weather pushed the grapes to perfect ripeness, resulting
in a mid to late October harvest of grapes that had an ideal
combination of intense fruit and balancing acidity. Spring Mountain Reserve is the ultimate vini-cultural and
artistic expression of our Estate. Each year, certain lots
demonstrate a personality and a quality level that immediately
sets them apart from other wines. These are the lots destined
to create Spring Mountain Reserve, a wine that will showcase
a beautiful combination of concentration, harmony and character
during its long life. |
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Spring Mountain Reserve |
| Spring Mountain Reserve is the ultimate vinicultural and
artistic expression of our Estate. Each year, certain
lots demonstrate a personality and a quality level that
immediately sets them apart from other wines. These
are the lots destined to create Spring Mountain Reserve,
a wine that will showcase a beautiful combination of concentration,
harmony, and character during its long life. |
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Spring Mountain Vineyard |
| Originally four individual historic Napa Valley properties, Miravalle, La Perla, Alba, and Chevalier have now been combined to create an 850 acre estate of forest and vineyard on the eastern slopes of Spring Mountain overlooking the small town of Saint Helena. Over 225 acres of the estate are planted to vine, creating 135 separate hillside vineyard blocks each with its own unique soil, exposure, and microclimate. The vineyard is planted in densities of 4,000 vines per acre and trained to the ancient gobelet form, a vertical trellising method that was invented in an earlier millennium by the Romans. |
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