2006 Swanson "Alexis" Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

One 750ml bottle

The '06 Swanson Alexis Cabernet Sauvignon, which was not fined or filtered in order to maintain maximum flavor intensity and texture, has considerable power and authority on the palate. Color is dense and ruby. Aromas of jammy blackcurrants, ripe plums, vanilla and black cherry. The mouth exhibits very ripe, silky tannins. Finish is thick, and very well-balanced, with layers of dense, dark fruits and espresso, coupled with just a kiss of oak in the background. 
 
In '06, Swanson's Cabernet Sauvignon vines were perfectly balanced, thus requiring almost no adjustment to the crop. Ample rain over the 2005-2006 winter meant red varieties began the season with a strong budbreak. Moderately warm spring weather encouraged very even development of the fruit, from flowering through verasion. Heat spikes in late July and early August were tempered by cooler weather for the duration of final ripening and harvest - perfect conditions for harvesting the fruit precisely when flavor, acid and tannin ripeness dictated. Cabernet Sauvignon in their mid-valley location performs at its best in a long, cool growing seasons, so they have very high expectations for '06 as a Cabernet vintage. 
 
This wine was sourced exclusively from the three best blocks in the Schmidt Ranch vineyard, located on benchland in Oakville on the western side of the Valley, along the Mayacamas mountains. The well-drained alluvial soils produced a small crop of very intense, concentrated fruit. 

Jammy blackcurrants, ripe plums, vanilla, black cherry, dark fruits, espresso